Independent Living Centre (ILC)
What is the Independent Living Centre?
The Independent Living Centre (ILC) is a statewide service of Yooralla that provides impartial information and advice on Assistive Technology to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities across Victoria.
There are also Independent Living Centres in other Australian states. For further information please visit the National Website of Independent Living Centres http://www.ilcaustralia.org.au.
Independent Living Centre Services
Assistive Technology Display
The ILC has an extensive range of Assistive Technology for daily living on display. This Assistive Technology is displayed, as much as possible, in a functional setting, often within rooms designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. Assistive Technology can be demonstrated and advice obtained from Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists with specialist knowledge in Assistive Technology and access. Visitors can also trial most products on site to determine which best suits their needs.
The ILC does NOT sell Assistive Technology, however supplier details and relevant service information can be obtained from staff.
ILC Brooklyn is our main display centre and is open to the public from 9.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Although people can drop in at any time it is preferred that people call the telephone enquiry service beforehand.
ILC Blackburn is our secondary, smaller display centre and is located at the MS Nerve Centre in Blackburn. This centre is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Due to limited staffing we request that people call the ILC Brooklyn telephone enquiry service to schedule a visit between 9.00am and 4.30pm.
Telephone Enquiry Service
Therapists at ILC Brooklyn provide a telephone information and advisory service between 9.00am and 4.30pm weekdays. People may access this service by telephone, email or TTY and may request product information to be sent to them by mail, fax or email.
Appointments
Where people require additional assistance to narrow down their Assisive Technology choices, ILC therapists can conduct assisted appointments at ILC Brooklyn only. These 90 minute sessions generally focus on complex areas of equipment such as, manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, scooters and hoists. Assisted appointments can be booked by calling the ILC telephone enquiry service. Please note that at this time the ILC therapist will require information about the client such as, contact details, diagnosis, functional status, current Assistive Technology (if any) being used and details of their treating health professional.
An Interpreter can be arranged to be present during the appointment.
This service may be particularly useful for therapists wishing to upgrade / update their Assitive Technology knowledge.
External therapists can use both ILC display centres to conduct non-assisted appointments. However, it is important to call the telephone enquiry service to confirm availability of Assitive Technology display areas.
Equipment Library
The Equipment Library is a service of the Independent Living Centre. This service provides short term hire of specialised Assitive Technology for children, families, carers and adults.
Tours of Display Centre
Group tours of the ILC Brooklyn display centre are available for clients, carers, health professionals, students or others. Bookings are essential and can be made through the ILC telephone enquiry service. Group tours are not available at ILC Blackburn.
Information and Advisory Handouts
The ILC maintains and provides a number of information and advisory handouts covering many topics relating to independent living. Topics include:
- Personal alarm call systems
- Resources for parents with disabilities
There are also other handouts available from the ILC. Topics include Home Modifications, Assitve Technology Available for Hire and Second Hand Equipment. Please contact the ILC for copies of these handouts.
Disability Equipment Information Service (DEIS)
In collaboration with Comtec, the Victorian Continence Resource Centre, and Vision Australia Equipment Solutions, the Independent Living Centre maintains a comprehensive database of Assitive Technology available within Victoria. This database is called the Disability Equipment Information System (DEIS).
Products are evaluated and recorded in an objective manner by the ILC therapists to assist clients, carers, health professionals and others to compare items and make an informed and appropriate selection.
For each item, DEIS provides the following:
- A brief or full description;
- Considerations for use;
- Pricing and supplier contact information;
- Details of relevant Australian Standards.
Most of this information is available on the ILC Australia Website (http://www.ilcaustralia.org.au). Should further assistance be required, please feel free to contact the ILC telephone enquiry service.
ILC Education (ILCEd)
The ILC provides a comprehensive statewide education program aimed at health professionals, carers and others. For further information on upcoming events go to our ILC Education (ILCEd) Page.
Eligibility
Services provided by the Independent Living Centre are available to all members of the general public.
Referral and application
A referral is not required to visit the Independent Living Centre. However, it is preferred that people use the telephone enquiry service prior to dropping in.
Fees
- Assitive Technology Display Drop In, Telephone Enquiry Service, Non-Assisted Appointments:
- There is no fee for these services.
- Assisted Appointments
- Full Fee: $30.00
- Concession: $15.00 (includes holder of pension, health care card or equivalent)
- TAC/Workcover: As per scheduled rate
- Group Tours Of Display Centre (clients/carers):
- Tours conducted by ILC Therapist: No Charge
- Group Tours Of Display Centre (Students/Non-professionals):
-
Conducted by referring organisation's adult educator: $33.00 (GST Included)
A non assist tour package is available on arrival. -
General Tour Conducted by ILC Therapist: $99.00 (GST included)
This option is by negotiation and is designed for groups who would like to spend extra time on a specific product area such as hoists. - Group Tours of Display Centre (Professionals/Overseas Professionals)
- Tour Conducted by ILC Therapist: $99.00 (GST included)
Contact the ILC
- Yooralla's Independent Living Centre
-
705 Geelong Road
Brooklyn Victoria 3012
Melways Reference: 40 J10 -
P.O. Box 1101
Altona Gate Victoria 3025 - Tel: (03) 9362 6111 / 1300 885 886 (Victoria Only)
- Fax: (03) 9314 9825
- TTY: (03) 9314 9001
- E-mail: ilc@yooralla.com.au
- ILC Blackburn
-
54 Railway Rd
Blackburn Victoria 3030
Melways Reference: 48 A10
Please call ILC Brooklyn to schedule a visit.
If you would like to speak to us in a language other than English, please call us via the Telephone Interpreter Service on 131 450.
Getting To Us
A wheelchair accessible low floor bus (No. 414 to Laverton South) travels from Paisley Street Terminus near the Footscray Railway Station. Please allow at least ten minutes to get from the train station to the bus stop on Paisley Street. The bus stop is located directly in front of the Yooralla Brooklyn building which houses the ILC. Buses depart at approximately 40 minute intervals. A timetable is available from the Met Information Centre http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au or by telephoning 131 638.
Note: Not all buses are wheelchair accessible, please confirm scheduled times on the day of travelling with the bus company.
Assitive Technology: Definition
- Assistive Technology
- Any device, system or design, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified or customised, that allows an individual to perform a task that they would otherwise be unable to do, or increase the ease with which a task can be performed. (http://www.ilcaustralia.org.au)