A program run by families to support school children with disabilities in Sydney’s Northern suburbs is in jeopardy because the State Government refuses to provide ongoing funding. 

 Anthony Roberts, Member for Lane Cove said that Lifestart’s School Age Services Program had been designed by parents to assist their children with disabilities to participate productively in the community, at school and at home.

In his speech to the NSW Parliament last night, Shadow Minister for Disability Services and Ageing, John Ryan said that concerned parents had written to him expressing their dismay because the Government had recently refused their request for help. “I understand that Lifestart needs $4,600 for each family they support in the School Age Services Program,” Mr Ryan said.

The families in Sydney’s North had never received any money from the State Government for their School Aged Services program.” They need it now and the Government must reconsider its decision,” Mr Roberts said.

Lifestart in northern Sydney operates from Ryde to Palm Beach and expects to support 50 families who require School Age Services over the next 12-18 months.

Lifestart started several years ago as a parent cooperative, triggered by a lack of suitable services for their special needs children. It now offers early intervention and school age support services to families right across Sydney. It is regarded as best practice and has been approached by government agencies to provide details of how they run their model.