Canberra organisations that don't fit the user-pays model of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will soon be able to apply for grants up to $3 million, the federal government has announced.
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From July, organisations that provide disability services can apply for a grant through the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building fund, which unlike the NDIS, funds organisations not individuals.
The switch to a user-pays model was problematic for Canberra's station 1RPH - which reads news and other information to the print-handicapped in Canberra and surrounding regions.
Previously, their funding had come through Disability ACT, an organisation which was superseded by the NDIS.
Station president Lorraine Litster said the station had been told to overhaul its business model, a difficult task given "you can't turn a radio station into a user-pays service".
Nevertheless, the ACT government offered to provide the station with funding for a consultant to help them find a way to do just that.
However the Canberra station was thrown a temporary lifeline when it was announced it would broadcast National Disability Insurance Scheme announcements in return for a funding extension through to this July.
But Ms Litster said the station is "hedging its bets" on this new grants program to keep the station running into the future.
"We're only looking for $40,000 so we don't think it is a big ask," she said.
"The National Disability Insurance Agency has treated us pretty badly throughout this considering the station has been broadcasting to the blind and print-handicapped for more than 30 years. We were told we don't fit the model, too bad, how sad."
As a trial site for the NDIS. the ACT is one of the first jurisdictions in Australia to be able to apply for the fund.
To be successful in gaining a grant, organisations will have to provide services for people with disabilities that increase their independence, social and community participation.
The grants are designed to support all people with disabilities, not just those with NDIS plans.
"This is a great opportunity for organisations to apply for funding to develop and share practical initiatives and information to drive change for people with disability and communities in the ACT," Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services Jane Prentice said in a statement.
"We look forward to receiving submissions from a range of organisations which will achieve great outcomes for people with disability, regardless of whether they are NDIS participants or not."
The grant round closes at 2pm on March 8. To apply head to: communitygrants.gov.au/grants/ilc-jurisdictional-based-grants
