What is the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Program?
The ILC Policy Framework outlines the role and scope of the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) component of the NDIS. The ILC Policy describes five types of activities that will be funded in ILC as the ILC is progressively implemented across Australia. They are grouped into five streams as follows:
1. Information, linkages and referrals: This area is about making sure that people with disability and their families and carers have access to up-to-date, relevant and quality information. It is also about making sure they are linked into services and supports in the community that meet their needs.
2. Capacity building for mainstream services: This area is about making sure mainstream services have the knowledge and skills they need to meet the needs of people with disability. Mainstream services are those things usually funded by government such as education, transport and health.
3. Community awareness and capacity building: This area is about making sure community activities and programs understand the needs of people with disability and have the skills and knowledge they need to be more inclusive.
4. Individual capacity building: This area is about making sure people with disability have the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to set and achieve their goals.
5. Local Area Coordination: Local Area Coordination involves the appointment of Local Area Coordinators (LACs). LACs will be skilled at working with people with disability who come from all walks of life. The key functions of the LAC role will include:
- work directly with people who have an NDIS individualised plan to connect them to mainstream services and community activities that will assist them to put their plan into action;
- provide short term assistance to people who do not have an NDIS plan to connect them to mainstream services and community activities;
- work with their local community to make it more accessible and inclusive for people with disability.
Local Area Coordination alone however cannot meet the needs of everyone and it is envisaged that funding the activities in the other four streams will support and strengthen the work of the LACs. Local Area Coordination (LAC) is being implemented by the NDIA separately to the other four streams or activity areas.
The ILC Commissioning Framework describes how the NDIA will fund and manage activities in the first four streams.