Minister for social services, Dan Tehan, has officially opened Bupa's new state-of-the-art therapy centre in West Melbourne.
The centre was completed late last year to help meet the growing demand of disability and NDIS services across Melbourne.
The NDIS has started rolling out nationally and by the time it’s fully implemented in 2020, it is expected to support around 460,000 Australians, including 105,000 Victorians with a disability.
Bupa said the therapy centre was co-designed by people living with a disability and carers to ensure it is able to meets their needs.
Minister Tehan said he was delighted to be at the opening.
"That's why it’s great to be here because what we’re seeing from Bupa is investments that will make a big difference especially when it comes to the disability sector," he said
According to Richard Bowden, CEO of Bupa Australia, “We’re excited to draw on our global experience in health, care and rehabilitation services to expand into therapy.
“The National Disability Insurance Scheme puts choice and control into the hands of people living with disability. It’s meant the health and care system has had to evolve to meet their needs.”
Bupa Therapy Operations Manager, Angela Aldous, said the NDIS presented a new opportunity to think differently about how health providers could best meet the needs of people living with disability.
“It’s made us think of different and innovative ways to improve therapy access to people who arguably need it the most. It’s resulted in our new state-of-the-art, purpose-built therapy centre that’s been co-designed with people living with disability and their carers as well as clinicians.
“People wanted more convenience in terms of care delivery, so having physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology under one roof was key. Our purpose-built facility, we believe, will set the standard for the delivery of innovative therapies in the sector and we are really proud of that.
“NDIS means that bespoke facilities like these are now more accessible and built very much for specific needs,” said Ms Aldous.
The centre is open to all, not just Bupa customers or NDIS participants.