Media Release by Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield

NDIS participant numbers continue to grow

More than 13,000 people with disability are now benefiting from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), according to new data released today.

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, said that more than 13,500 participants now had support plans in place, and $754 million had been committed to people with disability to fund the services and equipment they need to live more independent lives.

Key findings of the report include:

  • 13,610 people with disabilities had an approved NDIS plan, at a total cost of $754 million. This represents 85% of the bilateral targets, up from 81% since the last quarterly report.
  • The cost of the average package (excluding residents of large institutions) is $34,900. This is largely unchanged from the last quarter average ($35,300), and remains below the expected full scheme average of $36,750.
  • Participant satisfaction levels remain very high.

“The NDIS is making a difference in the lives of more than 13,500 Australians with disability and their families, who are now at the centre and in control of the services that they receive,” Minister Fifield said.

“They are getting the support they need to pursue their own personal goals and to improve their economic and social participation.”

The NDIS is currently operating in seven trial sites with a transition to the full Australia-wide scheme starting from July 2016.

Minister Fifield said that more than 460,000 Australians would benefit from the NDIS once it was fully operational.

“The Government is committed to the full rollout of the NDIS and is determined to make the savings to absorb this once in a generation reform into the budget.”

Minister Fifield said governments are working on detailed schedules of how and when each state and territory will transition to the NDIS. Information on transition timing and locations will be available by the end of August 2015.

“I look forward to working with my state and territory counterparts as we lay down the framework through which the NDIS will be rolled out to people with disability.”

The National Disability Insurance Agency is taking on board feedback from participants and providers to refine the NDIS in the lead up to the transition to full scheme from 2016.

The full Quarterly Report is available http://www.ndis.gov.au/quarterly_reports.