Better Days on the Horizon

Equality and access for all is the foundation of a truly inclusive society. It’s also the basis of the formation of New Horizons over 30 years ago, created with the idea that sport inclusion, quite simply, changes lives.

Afer many years of receiving block-funding on an annual basis, the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, while creating signifcant opportunities for many disability service providers, created diferent funding challenges.

For New Horizons which deliver more than a dozen programs a week in northern Tasmania as well as throughout the state, funding streams once provided by State Government have been replaced with Federal Government funding via the NDIS.

Trough the Government’s Independent Linkages and Capacity program funding, New Horizons will receive almost a million dollars which will provide the organisation with fnancial support to continue to deliver programs in Tasmania.

Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer has worked closely with New Horizons over the past 12 months to ensure they were provided with the information and support needed to ensure it could meet the criteria for the competitive grant round, afer missing out in 2020.

“New Horizons advocates worked incredibly hard applying for the latest grant round and I am thrilled that they have been provided up to $652, 128 to deliver sport and recreational opportunities through mainstream and community partnerships across the state,” Mrs Archer said.

“Tis will allow more people with disability to play and participate in local grassroots and professional sport across the state.”

An additional $326,064 will be provided by the Morrison Government to grow the organisation’s capability to deliver additional sporting services tailored for people with disability.

For Edwina Dick from New Horizons, the funding is very welcome news afer losing funding streams in recent years.

“It’s an enormous relief that, for the next twelve months, we can really focus on delivering more fantastic, inclusive programs across the state,” Ms Dick said.

“We are so grateful for the support of Bridget, as well as the Tasmanian Department of Disability Services during this rigorous NDIS ILC process. Our community has made it very clear to us that they want New Horizons around for the long term, which is very humbling.”

New Horizons chief executive Belinda Kitto said that the funding will allow the restoration of services in the north-west of the state.