IFSO: Enquiries & Referrals

Inquiries

Inquiries about the program can be made directly to staff in the IFSO teams – see our contact details page for phone numbers.
Inquiries can also be made to Pathways (The Spastic Centre’s information, referral, intake and planning unit) on 1300 888 378.
Inquiries can also be taken via the relevant Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) regional intake number (see below).
If you are considering making a referral to the program, we ask that you phone and speak to us before sending in the referral form. We can advise you on whether the situation fits our criteria, which IFSO team covers the area the family lives in, and whether there is a waiting time for service.

Referrals

Referrals can be made by sending in the IFSO referral form – for a copy of the form for the particular region, please contact the relevant IFSO team or DADHC intake service.
Referrals can be faxed directly to the team or to the DADHC numbers below.
We prefer to get a referral from an agency or service that knows or has been working with the family.
DADHC intake numbers are:

DADHC North region (covering IFSO North & IFSO West): Tel: 02 88554200, Fax: 02 88554243

DADHC South region (covering IFSO South West & IFSO South East): Tel: 02 93343700, Fax: 02 93343708

DADHC Hunter (covering IFSO Central Coast & IFSO Hunter): Tel: 02 49085200, Fax: 02 49612812

Criteria for referral:

Families with a child or adolescent with a diagnosed disability (physical, intellectual or sensory) between 0-17 years of age.
Families who are in crisis and/or are at risk of breakdown. To determine this, we consider factors such as:
- Breakdown in parent/carer/family relationships.
- Family requesting placement of child or adolescent, or considered to be at risk of prematurely making a placement.
- Significant change in physical/emotional health of parent/caregiver or child.
- Patterns of respite use: eg repeated emergency respite or a significant increase in respite over the last 12 months.
- Significant increase in requests for additional support services, or assistance with child’s behaviour
- Neglect and/or abuse of children.
- Increase in problems relating to siblings.