Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Getting ready for an NDIS in South Australia

Joint Media Release with:

  • MARK BUTLER MP

    Minister for Mental Health & Ageing
    Minister for Social Inclusion
    Federal Member for Port Adelaide

The Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin, today joined Member for Port Adelaide, Mark Butler, at Novita Children’s Services in Adelaide to meet with children with disability and their families who will benefit from the first stage of an NDIS.

The first stage of an NDIS will start in South Australia from mid-next year and preparations for the scheme are well underway.

The Gillard Government’s new NDIS Launch Transition Agency, the body tasked with implementing the first stage of an NDIS, is holding meetings with local people with disability, their families and carers in Adelaide.

“The Gillard Government is working hard with the South Australian Government to build an NDIS, to make sure people with disability get the care and support they need, no matter where they live or how they acquired their disability,” Ms Macklin said.

“From tomorrow, the Agency will be holding a series of consultations and workshops with the very people who experience every day what it’s like to work with a broken system.

“This will help ensure that people in South Australia understand what an NDIS will mean for them and that we are ready for the first stage to start from the middle of next year.”

In South Australia, an NDIS will support children with disabilities up to age 14. By 2015, nearly 5,000 children in South Australia with significant and permanent disability will be benefiting from an NDIS.

Under an NDIS, these children, with their families, will:

  • work with local people to identify their plans and goals for the future;
  • be assessed to receive NDIS individualised care and support packages;
  • be assisted by local coordinators to help manage and deliver their support; and
  • access a system they can easily navigate and that will link them to mainstream and community services.

Mr Butler said the Agency implementing the NDIS will also be meeting with disability service providers throughout the state to talk about how existing services are helping people with disability, and to help ensure a smooth transition to an NDIS.

“We know that services like Novita are already doing fantastic work to help people with disability, particularly children, right across the state,” Mr Butler said.

“Service providers are on the front line making sure children with disability are getting the support they need, which is why we want their input as we prepare for the launch of an NDIS in South Australia.”

Ms Macklin said launching an NDIS for infants and children would be an important first step for the scheme in South Australia.

“Our approach in South Australia will help us identify the very best ways to provide vital early intervention services to make sure children with disability can get the best start in life.

“An NDIS will fundamentally change the way we support people with disability, and I’m really pleased South Australia will be leading the way in delivering this historic reform.”

The first stage of an NDIS will benefit more than 20,000 people with disability, their families and carers in launch sites in the Hunter in New South Wales, the Barwon region in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.