Options Victoria Inc

About

The history of our organisation dates back to 1971 when a determined group of parents and local community leaders from the south-eastern Melbourne suburbs of Springvale and Noble Park formed a committee to develop a school for children with a disability. Funds were raised to build a facility and the "Urimbirra" Day Training Centre opened in Callander Road Noble Park in 1974.

A decade later the State education department took over administration of schools for children with disabilities, and it become the Noble Park Special Developmental School. After founding the school, the same committee went on to establish a day service for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Again funds were raised and with the help of the State government Urimbirra Centre was built and opened in 1982 in Noble Park, next to the original school. Urimbirra's committee then raised enough funds to establish a respite care house, located in the nearby suburb of Keysborough.

A sub-committee oversaw the operation of the respite house until 1992 when ownership was passed to the State government and it became a permanent care residence for people with a disability.

During the 1990s Urimbirra Centre expanded its services to include open and supported employment services. Around the same time, another organisation, Westernport Adult Service Providers Inc. was formed by a group comprising various professionals involved in disability services in the south-east area of Melbourne. Formed in 1989, the organisation developed a regional recreational service, Leisure Link Up, and an open employment program, Work Support.

In late 1995, the Committees of Management of Urimbirra Centre Inc. and Westernport Adults Services Providers Inc. recognised that joining forces would strengthen their ability to provide regional services and they resolved to pursue a merger. In 1996 the two organisations amalgamated and formed South Eastern Disability Services Inc. The amalgamation also led to the merger of the open employment services of the two organisations, Job Match and Work Support, which combined to form one service - Paramount Personnel.

In response to growing demand for daytime support services a new facility was built in Narre Warren, and in 1999 Kalimna Support Options commenced services. Around this time individual support services were created so that people could make more of their own choices about how they wish to be supported to participate in the community and live their life.

In 2003, the organisation changed its name to Options Victoria Inc.