Company Profile
Lifestart Cooperative Ltd
Company Overview
Lifestart is an NGO that supports children and young people living with disabilities or delay aged 0-24 years, their families and carers through:
- Early Childhood Early Intervention,
- Specialised therapy,
- Start Strong Pathways,
- Inclusion in their community,
- Family information and support, and
- Helping communities and services to build capacity for inclusion.
Company History
Lifestart, a not for profit organisation and registered charity, provides early intervention and school age years inclusion support programs and supports to children and young people 0 - 24 years living with disability or developmental delay. Lifestart uses a family/person centred approach to meeting the priorities and needs of children and young people, their families and carers. It is based on the concept of partnership with children and young people, their families and carers, to assist and empower them to participate meaningfully and inclusively in our community.
Since 1996, Lifestart has grown from one centre and now offers early intervention, transition to school and school age years inclusion supports across NSW. The families who started Lifestart wanted choice and involvement in their child’s program and with a small amount of funding from the then Department of Ageing and Disability, the group established the first Lifestart program in a single classroom at Turramurra Public School. Lifestart is founded on evidence based practice including a family centred approach which a core strength of Lifestart’s philosophy.
Lifestart’s programs and supports have made a difference in the lives of thousands of children and their families. Lifestart currently supports over 1100 families and children. Our committed team offers a range of flexible and responsive individual supports to children, young people and their families / carers to assist them to achieve their gaols and aspirations
Lifestart uses a key worker approach. A key worker is the person you will see and talk to the most. A key worker is an early intervention professional and may be a speech pathologist, special educator, occupational therapist, social worker, physiotherapist or psychologist.
Lifestart’s highly skilled therapists, educators and family support staff work in partnership with your family to achieve the best possible outcomes for your child or young person’s learning and development.
Support can be provided for:
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Transition to school
- School support
- Psychology
- Social welfare
- Community inclusion
- Family information and support
- Helping communities and services to build capacity
Benefits
Salary Sacrificing
Salary Packaging allows employees to access a tax exemption up to $15,900 per year for everyday expenses such as, but not limited to, mortgage or rent, bills, shopping and petrol. In addition, up to $2650 can be used on Meals, Accommodation, Venue Hire, Entertainment. This provides an extra $5000 - $6500 in disposable income (which increases your take home pay).
Gifted Leave
An additional week of paid leave (non-accruable). This gives our employees a total of 5 weeks paid leave per year.
Personal/Carers Leave
An additional 5 days of paid personal/carers leave above the National Employment Standard (NES) (pro-rata).
Study Leave
A maximum of 5 days paid study leave and 2 days unpaid (pro-rata).