The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and proposed changes to the Commonwealth Government policy about the service system has led to council staff recommending Shellharbour council close its Home and Community Care Services, National Respite Carers Program and Community Transport service from  the end of October.

General manager Michael Willis said that when Shellharbour Council took on its community care role there was a gap in service provisions, particularly community transport.

‘‘The gap in community care that council has filled for 19 years is no longer there and under these new reforms, our advice is to exit this service and support our staff, volunteers and clients through the transition,’’ Mr Willis said.

‘‘The introduction of the government’s customer centred service model in the future means that others can provide the services that are more competitive than we are able.’’

Shellharbour Council currently provides a range of centre-based services, social services, in-home respite, and referral services for 281 service users and carers.

The Albion Park HACC Centre employs six staff, has five vacant positions and has 46 volunteers.

The council is part of a community transport ‘‘consortium’’ which has Wollongong City Council as the lead council.

The proposal to ‘‘transition’’ out of aged care services will be debated on Tuesday night.

Shellharbour councillor Peter Moran said he felt the council’s hand was being forced by the federal government.

‘‘A lot of the services are funded by grants from the federal government that won’t be available in the future,’’ Cr Moran said.

However, Kellie Marsh said in her opinion the council should be at the grass roots of the community especially when it came to community transport.

‘‘We have had an exceptionally good service for many years and we have the cream of the crop in volunteers and ‘‘people would not be able to get the same sort of service elsewhere,’’ she said.

Mr Willis said he believed the services provided by the council would be absorbed by Shellharbour’s aged care sector.

‘‘The council’s service has fulfilled a valuable role in our community for a number of years ... the service has been declining as the aged care sector has developed,’’ he said.

Facing the axe:

Shellharbour City Council Services to go:

Centre-based respite: Looking Ahead Group, Friday Friendship Group and Friday Bowling

Social Support: Rosie’s Tours, Shell Cove Group, Wednesday Bowling, Transport, Shopping, Gardening and Minor Home Maintenance

In Home Respite

Information, Advocacy and Referral

Source: Illawarra Mercury