Morrison Government commits over $165 million to extend support to people transitioning to the NDIS

The Liberal National Government is investing over $165 million to extend funding to providers to support the transition of people in Commonwealth funded programs to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for up to 12 months to 30 June 2020.

Federal Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, said that as the NDIS rolls out, it has become clear additional time is required to help some people in Commonwealth programs transition to the NDIS.

“Service providers have been working hard to help their clients transition to the NDIS, with over 50,000 people having already moved from Commonwealth programs into the NDIS,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This is significant, and I acknowledge the work done by providers around the country, but I also recognise that for some people, the transition to the NDIS is harder than for others.

“Several of the 14 Commonwealth programs support some of our most vulnerable Australians such as children with hearing and vision impairment in remote and regional areas, people with psychosocial disability, and people with younger onset dementia.

“The Government is taking a flexible and responsive approach to the NDIS transition. This is a big change and it’s important to get it right,” Mr Fletcher said.

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson, said the extension of funding would take into account the different stages of the NDIS roll out across the country.

“Some providers in Western Australia and parts of the Northern Territory will receive full funding until 30 June 2020 to ensure people are supported until the NDIS is fully rolled out in these two states from 1 July 2020,” Ms Henderson said.

“Existing clients of Commonwealth programs who are found ineligible for the NDIS will receive Continuity of Support under these extension arrangements.

“In other words, existing clients who are ineligible for the NDIS will continue to be supported to achieve similar outcomes, even if the arrangements for doing that change over time,” Ms Henderson said.

At full scheme, the NDIS will support an estimated 460,000 people with disability.

More information about the programs is available at www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/transitioning-to-the-ndis.