Media Release by The Hon Jane Prentice MP

Jobs and economic boom for ACT with arrival of NDIS

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon. Jane Prentice MP
    Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services

    • The Hon Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services
    • The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services

The ACT economy will be boosted by $160 million a year and 1000 new jobs due to the arrival of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a new report reveals.

The Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter, and the Assistant Minister for Disability Services, Jane Prentice, released the NDIA Market Position Statement (MPS) for ACT today, which outlines the extensive opportunities the NDIS will create in the ACT and surrounding region of Southern New South Wales for current and prospective disability providers.

“The ACT disability support market is expected to grow to $350 million a year by 2019 with the rollout of the NDIS,” Minister Porter said.

“Most importantly, an additional 1800 local residents living with a permanent and significant disability will receive funded supports – a 35 per cent increase.

“The NDIS is expected to provide support to 6900 participants in the ACT by 2019.

“In Southern New South Wales, there are expected to be 4100 people supported by 2019 – a 52 per cent increase in the number of people supported in the region.

“Local jobs in Southern New South Wales in the sector are also expected to double from 700 to 1450 with the disability market in the area expected to grow from $100 million to $200 million a year.”

Mrs Prentice said the increased demand for disability supports would lead to a surge in job opportunities in the region.

“It is expected there will be up to 1000 new full time jobs created in ACT, and up to 750 in Southern New South Wales,” she said.

“The number of NDIS registered providers in the ACT has nearly doubled in just over two years since the launch commenced.

“Across Australia, new providers are emerging to fill gaps in the disability support market.

“While adapting to a transformation of this size can be challenging, the overwhelming majority of providers are excited about their growth prospects and opportunities under the NDIS.”

The NDIS will provide about 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.

For more information about when the NDIS is coming to your area and what to do to prepare for its arrival, visit www.ndis.gov.au.