NDIS National Scheme Reaches Second Year Mark with Addition of NT

Monday 6 June 2016 @ 12.53 p.m. | Legal Research

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a Federally funded insurance scheme to access support for disability, released its Second Year Annual Report and Review at the end of last year (22 October 2015).

The Agency has made implementation of the full scheme a priority (due to start on 1 July 2016).

Background to the NDIS 

The NDIS is the new way of providing support for Australians with disability, their families and carers. The NDIS will provide about 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.

As an insurance scheme, the NDIS takes a lifetime approach, investing in people with disability early to improve their outcomes later in life.The NDIS helps people with disability to:

  • Access mainstream services and supports;
  • Access community services and supports;
  • Maintain informal support arrangements; and
  • Receive reasonable and necessary funded supports.

Annual Report Highlights and Governing Legislation

The NDIS is governed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (20 of 2013) [CTH], with new amendments due to start on 1 July 2016, as brought in by Schedule 1 to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Act 2016 (51 of 2016) [CTH].

Highlights from the NDIA 2014-15 Annual Report include:

  • NDIS delivered on time and on budget;

  • High level of participant satisfaction;

  • More than 19,000 participants;

  • More than 1950 providers;

  • More participants using transport, attending education and gaining employment; and

  • Over 16% of NDIA staff identify as having disability.

NDIS Availability Around Australia

From 1 July 2016, the NDIS will be introduced in stages around Australia over three years to ensure it is successful and sustainable.

The NDIS is currently available in the following jurisdictions:

  • NSW - Metropolitan Sydney with plans for further expansion; and
  • VIC - Metropolitan Melbourne with plans for further expansion.

The remaining States and Territories have announced their intention to be involved in the scheme with NT being the final Territory to sign up on 11 May 2016.

The remaining States and Territories intend to roll out the NDIS by the following times:

  • ACT - full scheme rolled out by 1 July 2016;
  • NT - full scheme rolled out by 1 July 2017;
  • QLD - full scheme rolled out by 1 January 2019;
  • SA - full scheme rolled out by 1 July 2017;
  • TAS - full scheme rolled out by 1 July 2019; and
  • WA - full scheme rolled out by the end of July 2017.

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