As trusted community members, Community Connectors play a critical role in identifying and engaging with people with disability and their representatives.
At March 2021, the NDIA employed 173 Remote Community Connectors covering 274 rural and remote communities over 90 Local Government Areas throughout NT, SA, WA and QLD.
Remote community connectors are community members employed by your local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) to connect you to services, support workers and the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency). Talk to your RCC if you or a family member have permanent or significant impairment that affects your day to day quality of life.
The purpose of the Remote Community Connectors (RCC) Program is to ensure there is culturally appropriate connection between the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and community, helping to enhance engagement and communication allowing Aboriginal people living in the Kimberley access information about the NDIS and are supported to complete NDIS plans.
Their role is to:
- Engage community in their understanding & awareness of the NDIS and support local linkages
- Identify potential NDIS eligible Aboriginal people living in community with disability
- Engage potential NDIS eligible Aboriginal people and their families in their understanding & awareness of the NDIS, the eligibility requirements & access process
- With consent, refer those identified as requesting further assistance to the EACP Coordinator
How to find them?
The MyCareSpace team are looking for a list of connectors (organisations offering this service) but this seems to be non-existent. We will keep adding as we discover organsisations.
WA
Kimberley
Kununurra Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation
Location: Doon Doon, Glen Hill, Kununurra and Wyndham
Chantelle Un
Remote Community Connector
Phone: (08) 9168 1528
Email: ndis@kwac.com.au
Nirrumbuk Environmental Health Service
Location: Balgo, Billiluna, Mulan, Beagle Bay, Bidyadanga, Broome (Broome based)
Phone: (08) 9193 7100
Sara Garrido Diaz
Project Officer for RCC Program
Phone: 0439 712 153
Email: sara@nirrumbuk.org.au
Winun Ngari Aboriginal Corporation
Location: Derby, Imintji, Jarlmadangah, Mount Barnett, Mount Elizabeth, Ngallagunda and Pandanus Park
(08) 9191 1877
Trish Spencer
Remote Community Connector
Phone: 0459 936 965
Email: patricia.spencer@winunngari.org.au
Yura Yungi Medical Service
Location: Halls Creek and Ringers Soak.
Rowena Carey
Remote Community Connector
Phone: (08) 9168 6266
Email: rcc@yyms.gov.au
South West
South West AMS
GRAHAM STOL - REMOTE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR
JANENE GRAY - REMOTE COMMUNITY CONNECTOR
Unit 5/55 Forrest Ave, Bunbury, WA 6230
Phone: (08) 9726 6000
Toll free: 1800 779 000
records@swams.com.au www.swams.com.au
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