Federal Budget delivers DisabilityCare Australia for Victorians

People with disability, their families and carers came together in Melbourne today to celebrate DisabilityCare Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, being rolled out across Victoria.

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin met people with disability at Yooralla in Melbourne to update them on the unprecedented long term funding security the Federal Budget has given to people with disability, their families and carers.

The 2013-14 Federal Budget provided $14.3 billion over seven years to 2018-19 to roll out DisabilityCare Australia nationally, on top of existing Commonwealth disability funding.

“The Budget makes the responsible decisions that are needed to fund DisabilityCare for the long term,” Mr Swan said.

“This unprecedented funding security gives people with disability, their families and carers in Victoria the certainty they deserve.”

The Federal Budget provides long term funding for DisabilityCare Australia through an increase to the Medicare Levy of 0.5 per cent and through responsible savings measures.

Ms Macklin said that DisabilityCare Australia will be a reality for about 5,000 people with disability in the Barwon launch site, which starts from 1 July.

“In less than six weeks, people with disability in the Barwon launch site will start receiving care and support from DisabilityCare Australia,” Ms Macklin said.

“And as a result of the historic agreement between the Commonwealth and Victorian government, DisabilityCare Australia will start to be rolled out in full across the state from July 2016.

“DisabilityCare will give people the peace of mind that if their child or loved one has a significant and permanent disability, they will get the care and support they need, when they need it,” Ms Macklin said.

“By July 2019, DisabilityCare Australia will provide more than 100,000 Victorians with disability and their families with more support, and more choice and control over how they receive it.”

Under the agreement reached with the Victorian Government, in 2019-20 when DisabilityCare is fully rolled out across the state:

• The Victorian Government will provide around $2.5 billion to cover all people in Victoria. This will contribute to the cost of care and support for people with disability.
• The Commonwealth Government will contribute around $2.6 billion to the scheme for Victorians.
• $244 million will be allocated to Victoria from the increase in the Medicare Levy, to assist with the cost of the scheme in Victoria.

For more information and to receive updates on DisabilityCare Australia visit www.ndis.gov.au