Western Australians with disabilities and their carers can apply for financial help through a special $350,000 State Government grants program.
Disability Services Minister Eric Ripper said today individual grants of up to $2,000 were available to help support these families and individual people with multiple or severe disabilities.
Mr Ripper said the grants were to assist with the cost of daily living and to give people more flexible options in their lives.
The grants were flagged in the State Government's landmark three-year Social Advantage package, which included a total of $1.5 million per year in additional funding for people with disabilities.
The grants were being advertised from today (Sat, 5/12) and applications should be made to the Bureau for Disability Services. The closing date was January 8.
"This initiative is in line with the Government's determination to provide practical support for families in all their diverse forms," Mr Ripper said.
"People who care for Western Australians with disabilities require a wide range of support services for their work.
"These grants will be made available to families to help in the provision of services such as home help, laundry services or respite care."
People who resided for the most part in residential care facilities would not be eligible and, except in exceptional circumstances, grants would not be made for items of capital equipment.
The grants were for people unable to access other sources of special, or short-term, financial assistance or funding to meet their specific needs.
Mr Ripper said further guidelines for the grants were available from the Bureau for Disability Services (telephone: 222 8770).
