Some States are well behind
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3 December 2015 is International Day of People with Disability, but it doesn’t mean much to some States
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We can’t wait any longer!
It is time to let those in charge know that many thousands of people have waited far too long to learn when the NDIS will be available to them.
Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have still not signed agreements with the COAG Reform Council chaired by the federal Minister for Social Services committing them to roll out the NDIS in their States. These were all supposed to have been completed by August, yet 5 of the 8 agreements are still to be finalised.
Make your voice heard – Sign the Petition!
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Rollout Plans released in NSW and VIC
In mid-September, the NSW and Victorian Governments released their NDIS roll-out plans. The release of roll out plans for Victoria and NSW will give certainty to 245,000 people with disability, their families and carers.
In one of the first acts of Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister, he signed the bilateral agreements with the Premiers of NSW and Victoria that will make the NDIS a reality for thousands of people with disability in NSW and Victoria.
This is a significant milestone on the road to the full roll out of the NDIS across Australia. It allows almost 60% of future NDIS participants the certainty of knowing when the NDIS is coming to them. Here are links to the roll-out plans for New South Wales and Victoria.
In NSW, the NDIS will be rolled out over two years, with all regions covered by 1 July 2018. The full NSW roll out will cover 115,000 people, and will allow up to 26,000 people with disability who do not receive any support right now to come into the NDIS in its first year.
In Victoria, the NDIS will be rolled out across three years, with all regions covered by the NDIS by 1 July 2019. The NDIS roll out will allow 27,000 people who are not covered by the disability system to receive support, as well as the 78,000 people who receiving support under the current arrangements.
Here are detailed maps and timelines for the rollouts in NSW and Victoria.
Meanwhile, in late September, the Queensland Government announced that the scheme will be available in North Queensland from early 2016, six months ahead of the full roll-out. Around 1,600 people are expected to be eligible for the NDIS in the early transition sites, with up to 600 of these people expected to receive their funded packages before 1 July 2016. Here’s a link to more information for Queensland.
Disability Induction Program
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It’s expected the NDIS will create 50,000 more jobs in the sector. Some of these will be within disability service organisations and other created jobs will see people directly employed by NDIS participants who are managing their own funds.
To assist new employees make the switch to the disability sector, and existing employees make the switch to the NDIS, National Disability Services (NDS) together with CareCareers have put together a new online Disability Induction Program.
The program includes five courses over 12 modules that take just four to five hours to complete in full. The program is suitable for all types of workers regardless of whether they are a full-time, part-time, casual, contract or a volunteer.
“It is suitable for new employees, people thinking about a career in the sector or existing workers to help them get ready for the NDIS.”
Learn more about the program and check out the video.