Preparing to deliver the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Preparations for the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme continue to progress with locations for regional offices secured in each of the launch sites.

Offices in Charlestown in New South Wales, Geelong in Victoria, Elizabeth and St Mary’s in South Australia and Devonport, Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania have been secured by the National Disability Launch Transition Agency and will open their doors when the scheme starts in July 2013.

The Agency is working at the local level so that people with disability, their families and carers work with staff who understand the local community supports and services in their area.

The regional offices will be where many people make first contact with the Agency to determine their eligibility for NDIS support, find information about disability supports or plan the supports they receive, based on their individual needs.

The NDIS will give a boost to local economies with around 220 people expected to be employed as Agency staff or contractors in the regional offices by July 2013.

Some staff are already on the ground in the launch sites and the Agency is undertaking further recruitment.

Agency planner positions – for people to work with NDIS participants to identify the supports they need to help them achieve their goals and aspirations – were advertised nationally last week, with more jobs to be advertised in coming weeks.

The Agency is committed to becoming a model employer for people with disability and is specifically encouraging people with disability to apply.
People can find out more about the advertised Agency jobs at www.apsjobs.gov.au or www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-launc/launch-transition-agency/.

The Gillard Government continues to work closely with people with disability, their families and carers, advocates, workers and service providers to ensure their expertise informs the progress of this major reform.

People with disability, their families and carers in the launch sites are already talking with their local Agency staff about the needs of their community at forums being held in launch sites around the country.

The Gillard Government has invested $1 billion in the first stage of the NDIS, which will provide support to more than 20,000 people with significant and permanent disabilities.

The first stage will start in five launch sites across the country – the Hunter in NSW, the Barwon area of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania from July 2013, and the ACT from July 2014