Scope Building Upgrade Launched

International Funding Award Recognised as Scope Gippsland gets Makeover and New Vehicle

A Gippsland-based service specialising in providing services for children with physical and intellectual disabilities will today unveil extensive building modifications funded by a major international award from global energy utility International Power.

Scope in Warragul was awarded A$200,000 in 2007 as part of International Power’s global Flagship Award program.  The funding has been used to purchase a specialist Mercedes 12-seat vehicle, improve garden landscaping and complete a building upgrade program.

International Power owns and operates the Loy Yang B and Hazelwood power stations in the Latrobe Valley providing 40% of Victoria’s baseload energy requirements.

International Power Australia’s Executive Director, Tony Concannon, who will open the new building today at 11.00am, said the Flagship Award has clearly been “a tremendous opportunity to enrich the capacity of Scope to deliver quality care in the Gippsland community”.

“We are very pleased to see how important this award has been in providing better transport opportunities and improved facilities for children with many different levels of ability and their families. 

“Scope provides a valuable learning environment for children living with a disability and International Power takes great pride in seeing the delivery of the specialist transport vehicle, the new landscaped garden area and the extensive building improvements,” Mr Concannon said. 

“You are indeed a worthy recipient of our company’s global Flagship Award. You undertake a vital job in the community and we are very pleased to be associated with such a fine organisation.”

Scope board member, Mark Burrowes, said the completion of the Warragul building was a significant achievement and would assist staff to deliver services to the Gippsland community, including the Early Childhood Intervention program, START program and children’s respite. 

“The Flagship funding award was an exciting and welcome opportunity for collaboration between our organisation and an international company.

“We certainly appreciated the funding, it has provided new facilities, a specialist vehicle to assist in our community service objectives and we are delighted to welcome Tony Concannon to Warragul today to officially open our new and improved building,” Mark said.

Work on the Scope building - the Grace Berglund centre - was completed in recent months with additional assistance from Scope to provide new fixtures and fittings for the George Street-based centre.

For further information, please contact:
Ms Melissa Hay (Scope) on: 0457 758 238
Mr Neil Lawson (IPRA) on: 0407 842 285

Editors Note

1. Scope is a not-for-profit organisation providing disability services that positively impact the daily lives of thousands of Victorian children and adults.  Scope’s mission is to support people with a disability to achieve their potential in welcoming and inclusive communities.
   Scope supports people living with a disability and their families across Victoria, with eight regional offices.
   The Grace Berglund Centre in Warragul was originally built in 1970 as a combined school and adult training centre for people with physical and multiple disabilities including Cerebral Palsy.  The service now provides therapy support, clinics, equipment fittings and assessments.  Named after Ms Grace Berglund, a prominent local citizen, today the building is a base for Scope’s regional office in Gippsland.  It is located in George St Warragul.
   Scope in Gippsland provides services to local children, young people and adults living with a disability and their families, in areas ranging from Bunyip in the West to Mallacoota in the far East.  Specialist services offer family service coordination, assessments and individual or group programs with speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists.
2. The IPR Company Flagship Award is an annual award that focuses on education, literacy and vocational training in the regions in which IPR has a community involvement and our employees have a personal commitment.  First awarded in 2001, the Flagship funding award must enrich the communities in which it is allocated. 
   It has assisted worthy projects in the UK, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, Czech Republic and Australia.  In 2005/6, the Traralgon Railway Conservation Reserve was allocated $90,000 for major environmental conservation improvements and education purposes. 
   And in 2009, an award of A$62,500 was provided to Lord Somers camp in Victoria for a theatre project.  Three awards in Australia in five years is a tremendous achievement for International Power’s Victorian-based businesses.
   For further information on International Power Australia visit www.ipplc.com.au