Update: What's Happening With ILC

We know there is currently an environment of uncertainty around Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC). It is a good idea to remember that it’s still very early days for ILC.  Think of it as a ‘work in progress,’ not unlike the NDIS during trial period.  Changes will be inevitable, so at this stage, we believe it is best to focus on what we know for sure. Let’s not get distracted with the “what ifs?”

SO WHAT DO WE KNOW?

• The NDIA is in the final stages of developing the ILC Investment Strategy. It is due to be released later this year.
• The value of peer support has been acknowledged and there will be an opportunity for user-led organisations to apply for ILC funding for the 2018-19 year.
• The NDIA has been upfront that it recognises that a purely competitive process is not the one and only way to support ILC going forward. Other options are also being considered, and we will wait to see what they will be.
• The pillars of ILC will remain. It is outcomes-focused with four key activity areas and five focus groupings (diagrams below).

4 Key Activity Areas

5 Focus Groupings

Without sugar-coating the situation, particularly for organisations whose current government funding ceases on 30 June 2019, now is an essential time to keep your eye on the prize- a successful transition to ILC.

Don’t just sit back and wait for grant applications to be announced.  Concentrate now on redefining your current work and mapping out all those other ideas you’ve been itching to get up and running for years.

HOW TO BE ILC READY

Step 1       Check out our hints and tips on being successful in ILC and key documents on the NDIS website. 

Step 2       Get your head around how to articulate the outcomes (benefits) your work produces, not just your outputs (numbers).

Step 3       Explore where your work and ideas best fit with the ILC key activity and focus areas.

Step 4       Link the benefits your work will achieve with ILC outcomes (diagram below).  

Step 5       Think about who else you need to bring on board to successfully deliver your project (partnerships/collaborations/evaluators).

Step 6       Spend some time determining the total cost of developing, delivering and evaluating your project.

Step 7       Write down your ideas as you go.

Before you know it, you will be racing out of the starting blocks as soon as the ILC grant round is announced.

How are you going to know about the announcement?  Don’t worry –  we will be sure to tell you. 

Remember there is $132million allocated for ILC from 2016-17 to 2020-21, so make sure you don’t miss this opportunity to be part of changing attitudes and building greater inclusion.          

Image: Not Titled by Robert Brown, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 62 x 81 cm. Image courtesy of Arts Project Australia.