Delivering DisabilityCare Australia for St George

People with disability, their families and carers came together in St George today to celebrate DisabilityCare Australia, the national disability insurance scheme, being rolled out across New South Wales.

The Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin joined the Member for Banks, Daryl Melham at Carinya Special School to update local residents on the next steps to make DisabilityCare a reality in St George.

The 2013-14 Federal Budget provided $14.3 billion over seven years to 2018-19 to roll out DisabilityCare Australia nationally, on top of existing Commonwealth disability funding.

Ms Macklin said the agreement reached with the New South Wales Government last year meant DisabilityCare will launch in the Hunter on 1 July this year, and progressively roll out across the state by July 2018.

“DisabilityCare Australia will benefit more than 2,000 people with disability, their families and carers in the local area,” Ms Macklin said.

“DisabilityCare will give local people peace of mind that if their child or loved one has a significant and permanent disability, they will get the care and support the need, when they need it.

“By July 2018, DisabilityCare Australia will provide more support to about 150,000 people with disability in New South Wales, and more choice and control over how they receive that support.”

Ms Macklin said the Federal Budget also provided long term funding for DisabilityCare Australia through an increase to the Medicare Levy of 0.5 per cent and through responsible savings measures.

“The Gillard Government has made the responsible decisions that are needed to fund DisabilityCare for the long term. This unprecedented funding security gives people with disability, their families and carers in St George the certainty they deserve.”

Under the agreement reached with the New South Wales Government, in 2018-19 when DisabilityCare is fully rolled out across the state:

• The New South Wales Government will contribute about $3.1 billion to the scheme.
• The Australian Government will contribute about $3.3 billion to the scheme for New South Wales residents. In addition, the Commonwealth will cover the full cost of people who turn 65 and choose to remain in the scheme.
• More than $300 million will be allocated to New South Wales in 2018-19 from the increase in the Medicare Levy, to assist with the cost of the scheme in New South Wales.

Mr Melham said DisabilityCare would be especially important for local families with children disability, as the scheme has a strong focus on early intervention support.

“We know early intervention services like physiotherapy, speech therapy and support for learning difficulties are critical in giving children the best possible start in life,” Mr Melham said.

“DisabilityCare will mean children with disability get the right support early in their lives so they can reach their full potential as adults.”

Mr Melham said he would continue to keep local residents up to date with the next steps in rolling out DisabilityCare Australia.

“It’s great to have Jenny here to celebrate this historic announcement with the people who have fought long and hard to make DisabilityCare a reality in our community.

“DisabilityCare will be starting in launch sites across the country in just a couple of weeks, and I know we’ll learn some important lessons as we work on the roll out of the scheme across the state.

“I’m really proud to be part of a Labor Government that is building DisabilityCare for local residents.”

For more information and to receive updates on DisabilityCare Australia visit www.disabilitycareaustralia.gov.au.