Queensland transition to the NDIS completed

Queensland’s transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will be officially completed on 1 October 2020, when NDIS Full Scheme arrangements take effect.

There are now around 85,000 Queenslanders in, or currently seeking access to, the NDIS.

The commencement of Full Scheme arrangements means the total combined investment in the NDIS from the Commonwealth and Queensland governments is expected to reach more than $4 billion in 2020-21.

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, said the full scheme agreement is a significant milestone in the NDIS rollout.

‘Queensland now joins the rest of the country, apart from WA, with the NDIS operating under a full scheme agreement, securing the future of the NDIS for all Queenslanders,’ Mr Robert said.

‘The Commonwealth has recently focused on ensuring people with disability could continue to access and use the NDIS during the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we’ve seen more than 6,000 Queenslanders join the NDIS between April and June this year.’

Minister for Disability Services Coralee O’Rourke said to now have tens of thousands of Queenslanders with disability accessing, or seeking access to, life changing supports under the NDIS is a significant achievement and one that can’t be underestimated.

‘I am particularly proud that there are now more than 36,000 Queenslanders with disability receiving funded disability supports for the first time, thanks to the NDIS,’ Ms O’Rourke said.

‘We want to maintain momentum to make the NDIS as accessible as possible and bring more Queenslanders in to the scheme so they can access life-changing services and supports.

‘Increased numbers of NDIS participants also supports the development of our Queensland NDIS market, and creates more jobs, including jobs for people with disability.’

Both the Commonwealth and Queensland government have been investing in ensuring people with disability have fair and equitable access to the NDIS, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people experiencing psychosocial disabilities, and ageing parents or carers of people with disability.

This includes Commonwealth funding of $20 million to expand the National Community Connectors program and $20 million to set up Assessment and Referral Teams (ART) in regional, rural and remote areas to help more Queenslanders access the NDIS.

At the end of August, ART had received more than 1,500 referrals for assistance, with 440 of those people approved for the NDIS.

The Commonwealth and Queensland governments will continue to work together to increase NDIS participation in the state.