Government offers $10m in grants to boost NDIS jobs and market
Organisations with innovative ideas to improve the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) workforce are being invited to apply for a share of $10 million in funding to expand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) workforce and services.
Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson, have opened applications for the first round of the Jobs and Market Fund (JMF) grants.
JMF is part of a Liberal-National Government investment of $45.6m to drive NDIS jobs and market growth.
“The introduction of the NDIS has brought a new way of doing business for disability services as well as a shift in the way people engage with these services,” Mr Fletcher said.
“We’re looking to fund innovative projects for up to two years that increase NDIS provider and workforce capability.
“This includes projects that help address under-supplied markets, including in rural and remote Australia, and build the evidence base for NDIS market and workforce growth.”
Ms Henderson said the first round of grants is designed to draw a wide range of well- developed project proposals to grow the NDIS provider market and workforce.
“Projects may include piloting new delivery models for rural and remote areas; development of digital platforms such as online therapy or service coordination hubs,” Ms Henderson said.
“They could be ideas involving co-design of services with participants; or the development of toolkits to support workers to transition to the disability sector.
“New and existing NDIS providers with innovative projects are encouraged to apply for this first of several JMF grant rounds.
“Priorities for funding under future JMF grants rounds include the development of rural and remote markets, and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to provide NDIS services.”
The JMF builds on the successes of projects funded under the $112m Sector Development Fund, and complements the $33m Boosting the Local Care Workforce (BLCW) Program.
There are expected to be 460,000 participants when the NDIS is fully implemented from 2020. The NDIS will contribute to the creation of 90,000 jobs across Australia over the next five years.
Applications for the JMF open today and close on 17 January 2019. For further information and to apply for a JMF grant visit the Community Grants Hub website.