The Andrews Labor Government today announced the next steps in its commitment to roll out the National Disability Insurance Scheme across the state.
The Government will provide $10 million to support Victorians with disabilities, their families, service providers and staff in the transition to the NDIS. This will provide practical and targeted information and resources and will help them to adapt to the new way the NDIS will work.
Minister for Disability Martin Foley said the Government will also begin a process to identify which organisations are best placed to provide services that are currently provided by the State Government.
The Government will ask not-for-profit and private providers about their interest and readiness to deliver NDIS services to people with disability.
Mr Foley said this was an important step toward delivering choice and control to people with a disability. Under the NDIS, for the first time people with disabilities will themselves be able to decide how their funding is spent.
The transition will be conditional on the Government being satisfied that:
- Providers have established that they have the capacity and expertise to deliver quality services
- Strong and enduring safeguards are in place to protect clients
- The right services are in place for people with disabilities
- Staff will be supported, including achieving fair terms of employment
Support for staff will be aimed at ensuring disability workers have career pathways and access to education and training to promote continued professionalisation. Delivering on its election commitment, the Government will establish the Victorian Skills Commissioner (VSC) to advise on training and skills.
To support a strong, skilled workforce, the soon-to-be-appointed Victorian Skills Commissioner will set up an NDIS Skills Forum to advise Government on how the training system can best meet the needs of this changing sector.
The NDIS will end waiting lists and benefit around 105,000 Victorians with disability. It is expected to double the size of the disability workforce and drive better disability services, as well as economic growth, across Victoria.
By 2019, Victoria will be investing $2.5 billion per year into the NDIS. For more information about the roll-out, which will begin in July 2016, go to
Quotes attributable to Minister for Disability Martin Foley
“We are doing this to help ensure that when the NDIS comes to each new area, people with disabilities can expect that the range of services they need to live full and active lives will be ready.”
“The Government is committed to ensuring staff are supported and treated fairly through this significant change. We also recognise the high level of care by current providers and will work with them to get the right organisations delivering the services people want and need.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert
“The Andrews Labor Government will work closely with the industry to make sure the training system is ready to respond to the emerging needs of people in the disability workforce.”
Reviewed 10 February 2021