Commitment to the National Disability Insurance Scheme
The Government agreed to establish the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) arising from the Productivity Commission report. The NDIS represents a fundamental change to the way people with disabilities have access to funding and services provided by the government. The NDIS will take an approach of providing care and support based on ongoing needs over the individual's life.
What has the government committed to?
For the first stage of the NDIS, the Government will commit $1 billion over four years.
Funding for the first stage includes:
| Fund individualised supports in launch locations | $342.5 million over three years | |
| Properly evaluate and assess people's needs and those of their carers and provide case management services | $213.4 million over four years |
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| Increase capacity of disability services sector to deliver NDIS services and supports | $122.6 million over four years | |
| Develop and implement an information communication technology system that will effectively monitor, track and evaluate the operation of the first stage, and provide a platform for future national roll-out | $240.3 million over four years |
The $1 billion committed by the Federal Government represents only the first stage of the NDIS and is mostly in relation to providing initial infrastructure and resources. It is currently unclear how the ongoing funding will be provided beyond the first stage and is likely to be shared between the Federal and State governments.
Published : 9 May 2012