The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) today begins being rolled out across Victoria, starting with north-east Melbourne.
This is a once-in-a-generation reform that will change the way support and services are provided to Victorians with disability.
At a celebration to mark this milestone, Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley said the NDIS would bring increased independence for people with disability, giving them more choice and control over the support they receive.
The Scheme is expected to be fully operational across Victoria by mid-2019 and will support more than 105,000 Victorians with disability.
In the next year, 10,000 Victorians are expected to become NDIS participants in north-east Melbourne area, an increase on the 7500 currently receiving services and support through the Andrews Labor Government.
The Barwon trial has paved the way for other communities in Victoria. At the end of April this year, there were 4,843 people with approved NDIS plans. For 1,942 people, the NDIS was the first time they received support.
Earlier this week the Labor Government announced the 16 organisations who will share in $10 million in funding that will deliver readiness to help people and providers adapt to the way the NDIS will work
The NDIS is a new national approach to providing support to people with a disability, their families and carers. It provides a whole-of-life approach to supporting people to enable them to live an ordinary life.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley
”I am proud to be here and be part of these celebrations, to acknowledge the hard work that has been undertaken to get us to this point and the new journey that many Victorians are about to embark on.”
“It’s new and it’s different, but our experience in Barwon has already shown that people with disability and their families are benefitting – that the NDIS provides an opportunity to live an everyday life.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020