Funding the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The Gillard Government will deliver $1 billion over four years to start rolling out the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The first stage of an NDIS will begin in mid-2013 and will provide care and support to around 10,000 people with significant and permanent disabilities in up to four locations across the country.

From mid-2014, the reach of an NDIS will be expanded to bring the total number of eligible people up to 20,000.

These individuals will have their needs assessed and be supported to develop individual plans to deliver ongoing personalised care and support over their life times.

The Government’s commitment includes:

• $342.5 million over three years from July next year for individually funded packages for people with significant and permanent disability.
• $154.8 million over three years from July next year to employ Local Area Coordinators to provide an individualised approach to delivering care and support to people with a disability.
• $58.6 million over three years from July next year to assess the needs of people with a disability in the launch locations.
• $122.6 million over four years to start preparing the disability sector for the new way of delivering disability services. Building the capacity of disability organisations to adjust to an NDIS is critical to success, particularly in the launch locations in the first stage of roll out.
• $240.3 million over four years to build and operate an NDIS information technology system.
• $53 million over four years to establish a new National Disability Launch Transition Agency to coordinate implementation and manage the delivery of care and support to people with a disability and their carers in launch locations from 2013-14.

The Australian Government’s initial investment will cover the total administration and running costs for the first stage of an NDIS. States and territories that host the initial locations will also be required to contribute to the cost of personal care and support for people with disability.

Our commitment means this Labor Government will start delivering an NDIS a year ahead of the timetable set out by the Productivity Commission.

We want Australians with disability, their families and carers to start benefiting from this fundamental reform as quickly as possible.

KEY FEATURES OF AN NDIS

The scheme will:

• provide eligible individuals with the care and support they need when they need it;
• give individuals decision making power, including being able to choose their service provider;
• provide high quality, evidence-based services which manage life-time costs of care;
• be simple to navigate and link to mainstream and community services;
• recognise the essential care and support of families and carers and support them in that role;
• facilitate each individual’s community participation, access to education and employment opportunities; and
• be managed on an insurance basis.