Leading Vic disability service in trouble
Yooralla, one of Victoria’s oldest disability services is facing a $2 million deficit as the cost of caring for its clients grows as they live longer and require more intensive care than Yooralla is funded to provide.
Chief executive officer, Bryan Woodfood, said that the funding model used by the State Government did not take into account the increased needs of clients. He called on the Government to honour a commitment made in 2006 to review the disability services pricing models, and said he hoped public donations would help fill the $2 million gap.
Disability and aged care services are funded separately under Commonwealth and State agreements so Yooralla is not eligible for extra funding although clients may require aged care as well as a disability car.
Another Victorian disability services provider, Scope, has reported losses last year and this year, and said while therapy services were funded only $59 an hour for therapy sessions, they cost $72 an hour.
