High quality care is at the heart of all that we do. We strive to support our clients to achieve what matters to them most; and to provide a positive experience for the exceptionally dedicated employees who walk alongside them.
Sadly, we have determined that it is no longer financially sustainable for us to maintain our commitment to the services we have undertaken to provide.
For this reason, Centacare has made the difficult decision to transition out of NDIS funded services. This includes our Supported Independent Living services, medium and short-term accommodation, Onsite Shared Support services, and NDIS funded support in the home and community including our disability social and life skills day hubs. We will also transition out of Disability Support for Older Australians services.
We will continue to deliver support to a small number of NDIS-funded clients through our Specialist Behaviour Support services. Centacare will continue to deliver services to people who are not eligible for NDIS support and are funded through QCSS (Queensland Community Support Scheme).
Our Aged Care, Housing, Family and Relationship, and Post-Release services and our outreach to people in prisons and hospitals continue, unaffected.
We are committed to supporting our clients with a disability as they navigate this change. We are working with several trusted providers on alternative support arrangements for our clients to consider.
We will work closely with clients, families, carers, guardians, support coordinators and our many service delivery partners to ensure clients are well informed and supported as they transition to a new provider of their choice.
We have contacted all of our affected clients and will be following up with more detail regarding arrangements specific to their services as soon as we are able, in the coming days and weeks.
More information and support for clients
Centacare is committed to keeping our clients and their families informed and supported throughout this process. We understand this news may cause uncertainty, and we want to assure you that your wellbeing, care, and dignity remain our highest priority.
It is no longer financially sustainable for Centacare to operate NDIS services and we have made the difficult decision to transition out of these services. This includes our Supported Independent Living services, medium and short-term accommodation, Onsite Shared Support services, NDIS funded support in the home and community including our disability social and life skills day hubs. We will also transition out of Disability Support for Older Australians services.
We will provide a well-coordinated exit from NDIS services. Our priority is to make sure there are no gaps in your care and that your transition is smooth and respectful.
We want to assure you the continuation of your services are our priority and we are working closely with the NDIA and a number of respected and trusted NDIS providers in your area to assist with a transition that happens as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Multicap, Endeavour Foundation, CPL, and Northcott have indicated that they will work with us to identify opportunities for Centacare clients and we will share further information with you as our transition planning progresses. Additionally, there are other providers that your support coordinator can connect you with.
The final choice will always be up to you and your family.
We will keep clients well informed through regular communication and provide information as soon as decisions are made. We are committed to giving you as much notice as possible in relation to any updates that impact you.
This webpage will be updated with new information as it is available.
No, your NDIS funding is connected to you as an individual and will go with you to your new provider.
Choosing a new provider is your choice. However, for Participants who are unsure what to do, we will engage with a panel of trusted NDIA Registered Providers to provide you with some options.
We want to assure you the continuation of your services are our priority and we are working closely with the NDIA and a number of respected and trusted NDIS providers in your area so that your transition happens as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Multicap, Endeavour Foundation, CPL, and Northcott have indicated that they will work with us to identify opportunities for Centacare clients and we will share further information with you as our transition planning progresses. We are working closely with these providers and will make this information available to affected clients in the coming days.
The final choice will always be up to you and your family.
We encourage you to discuss your options with your Support Coordinator as soon as possible and talk to your trusted friends and family. This is a big decision for you and, as Service Providers can take some time to complete their intake process, we encourage you to start as soon as possible.
We expect all participants of disability Social and Life Skills Hubs will have transitioned by mid-October and participants of Supported Independent Living services, medium and short-term accommodation, and Onsite Shared Support services will have transitioned to their new provider by mid-November.
We will continue to hold your personal information securely but will need your consent to release it to the Service Provider you chose. When you request to do so, we will securely transfer your client file and history with Centacare to your new provider and maintain records in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles.
We will continue to update this webpage as new information becomes available.
Centacare is committed to supporting you during this transition period.
You are encouraged to reach out to your own Support Coordinator, if you have one in place, to discuss your options for transition to an alternative service provider.
We have a team ready to respond to questions if you cannot find the information you require in our FAQs. You can contact our team at 1300 236 822 or by email at [email protected].
You can contact the NDIS at 1800 800 110.
Your existing services will remain in place and you will be contacted when we have more details to share with you. We recommend that you begin discussions with your Support Coordinator, trusted friends and family soon to find a new Service Provider who can meet your needs. We will do everything we can to help you achieve a safe and smooth transition.
This decision will directly impact hundreds of employees and will be felt deeply by all those who are and have been a part of the Centacare family.
Our highest priority is to redeploy affected employees wherever possible. We are taking the time to explore redeployment opportunities across Centacare as well as working with trusted local NDIS providers to identify opportunities for clients and staff.
We offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for wellbeing support. EAP is a voluntary and confidential counselling service that is available to all Centacare employees.
The support provided by Centacare disability workers and volunteers is an important part of the everyday lives of hundreds of Queenslanders with disability. We remain grateful for your deep care and compassion for clients and colleagues.
Centacare is committed to keeping our employees informed and supported throughout this process. We want to assure you that we will communicate openly and regularly throughout this process.
Centacare has been through a comprehensive review to ensure we can continue to deliver exceptional care in the areas where we are best placed to make the greatest impact.
It is no longer financially sustainable for Centacare to operate NDIS services and we have made the difficult decision to transition out of these services.
The affected services include our Supported Independent Living services, medium and short-term accommodation, Onsite Shared Support services, and NDIS funded support in the home and community including our disability social and life skills day hubs. We will also transition out of Disability Support for Older Australians services.
Our care for clients under the Queensland Community Support Scheme (QCSS) will continue.
It is too early to confirm the exact impact on individual roles as we transition out of providing disability services. While we will make every effort to identify redeployment and alternative roles across Centacare wherever possible, there is a real possibility a number of positions will no longer be required.
We will continue to provide services to our clients until they transition to another provider.
Our priorities at this time are to:
We will seek to offer employees the opportunity to be redeployed to other areas of Centacare’s operations as a first priority. We are also currently working with trusted local NDIS providers to identify opportunities to transition clients and staff in some cases. As we work out these details over the coming days and weeks we will share these options with you for your consideration.
If redeployment is not possible, we will provide:
Yes. In accordance with the Enterprise Agreement, Centacare will communicate with relevant employee representatives from the earliest possible stage and involve them in consultation processes.
Our clients remain at the centre of everything we do and we are committed to continuing service provision for our disability clients during this transition period. Our exit from NDIS services is well coordinated. We will work with our clients, families, carers, guardians and support coordinators to enact transition plans.
We are currently working with a number of trusted NDIS providers and will make this information available to clients in the coming weeks. Our goal is to connect them with providers who:
The final choice of provider will always be the client’s choice.
Clients are learning of this news at the same time as employees. Over the coming days, we will provide you with helpful information for clients and their supporters so you can answer their questions, keep them well informed and support them during this time. Be honest about what you know – that clients will be supported no matter what. Clients will be encouraged to reach out to their Support Coordinator.
All media enquiries should be directed to the Communications Office at [email protected].
We recognise the deep care and compassion of all those individuals who work as a part of Centacare’s disability support teams and understand how difficult this news may be. Support options include:
Throughout this transition we will:
Disability services have been at the core of our mission for more than 40 years. We will continue to do all we can to support you in this transition.
We will continue to update this web page with additional information as it becomes available.
To reach a member of our Communications Office please contact: [email protected].