Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Next steps for DisabilityCare Australia in Tasmania

Joint Media Release with:

  • Cassy O'Connor MP
    Tasmanian Minister for Human Services

A clear pathway for people with disability to access DisabilityCare Australia, the national disability insurance scheme, in the Tasmanian launch was announced today by the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments.

Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin and Tasmanian Minister for Human Services Cassy O’Connor said the agreement between the two governments is an important step towards the launch of DisabilityCare Australia from 1 July this year.

Participants aged 15-24 years as at 1 July 2013 will be able to access the scheme during the first stage of DisabilityCare Australia in Tasmania. Over the next three years, young people with significant and permanent disability will be able to access the scheme when they turn 15 years old.

The first stage of DisabilityCare Australia to be rolled out in Tasmania is expected to support around 950 young people living with disability.

Young people with significant and permanent disability who are currently using existing disability support programs or mental health services will access the scheme gradually from 1 July 2013, to ensure smooth transitions from their current supports.

Young people with disability who are leaving school or who either have or have expressed a need for individual supports or a community access package, or who are transitioning from formal out-of-home care arrangements will be among the first to move into the scheme over the next year.

The support young people receive through the current system will be maintained until they have their individual plans and support arrangements with DisabilityCare Australia in place.

Young people aged 15-24 with significant and permanent disability who are not currently accessing disability programs can make an access request to DisabilityCare Australia at any time over the launch period.

DisabilityCare Australia, the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government will work closely with people with disability, their families and carers and providers to ensure a smooth transition into the scheme. A number of programs will continue under existing funding arrangements through the duration of the launch.

The agreement announced today reaffirms the commitment from the Australian and Tasmanian Governments to make DisabilityCare Australia a reality for people with disability, carers, service providers and the broader community in Tasmania.

“DisabilityCare Australia will give people with disability choice and control over the care and support they receive,” Ms Macklin said.

“This agreement ensures that participants receive the support they require both during the transition and into the future, through a gradual introduction to DisabilityCare Australia.”

“We want to give Tasmanians living with disability the power to choose the services they need, and determine how those services are delivered,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Through the introduction of DisabilityCare Australia, Tasmanians living with disability will be able to have a say about their future pathways and connections within the community.

“Importantly the support young people receive through the current system will be maintained until they have their individual plans and support arrangements with DisabilityCare Australia in place.

“This is a significant milestone, because people with disability, their families, carers and service providers now have the vital information they need to prepare for the launch of DisabilityCare Australia in Tasmania.”

From July 2013, people will be able to contact DisabilityCare Australia directly or use the My Access Checker tool (available on the website from June 2013) to help inform their access to the scheme.

DisabilityCare Australia will also launch from July this year in the Hunter in New South Wales, the Barwon area of Victoria and in South Australia. The scheme will launch from July 2014 in the Australian Capital Territory and the Barkly region of the Northern Territory.

The Australian Government is providing $1 billion towards the DisabilityCare Australia launch. The Tasmanian Government will provide $49.5 million to DisabilityCare Australia over three years.

The Gillard Government and Tasmanian Government recently reached a significant agreement that will allow for the full roll out of DisabilityCare Australia in Tasmania by July 2019.

The agreement will provide around 11,000 Tasmanians with significant and permanent disability choice and control over the care and support they receive.

For more information about DisabilityCare Australia, the rollout of the scheme from 1 July 2013 and specific information for service providers:

To stay up-to-date with the rollout of the scheme, visit www.ndis.gov.au and click ‘sign up now’.

To view the arrangements in the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Government Bilateral Agreement, visit

http://www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-launc/intergovernmental-agreement/

To view fact sheets on how people with disability and providers will be supported in the transition to DisabilityCare Australia, visit:

http://www.ndis.gov.au/resources/fact-sheets-and-publications/