Launching a National Disability Insurance Scheme in the Barwon region

People with significant and profound disabilities in the Barwon region of Victoria are set to benefit from a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from the middle of next year, after the Australian and Victorian Governments today reached an agreement on arrangements for the Barwon launch site.

The trial in Barwon Region will commence 1 July 2013 and over the course of the trial about 5,000 people with significant and profound disabilities, their families and carers in the Barwon region will have their needs assessed and will start to receive individual care and support packages under an NDIS model.

Under an NDIS people with disability in the Barwon region will:

• be assessed to receive NDIS individualised care and support packages;
• have decision-making power about their care and support, including choice of service provider;
• be assisted by local coordinators to help manage and deliver their support; and
• access a system they can easily navigate and that will link them to mainstream and community services.

The Australian and Victorian Governments will work together to provide people with disability, their families and carers with the care and support they need, when they need it.

This work will include developing a consistent approach to assessing people’s needs; and working with service providers to build the capacity of the disability care workforce in the Barwon region.

The Victorian launch is in addition to launches already agreed with New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.

The Victorian funding contribution and governance arrangements are consistent with those agreed with other jurisdictions.

The Victorian Government will invest over $300 million for disability services for people in the Barwon Region over the trial period.

The Australian Government will invest more than $190 million towards individual support packages as well as fully funding the provision of services including local area co-ordination, assessment, service sector capacity building and for the NDIS Launch Transition Agency operations and administration.

The Australian and Victorian Governments will hold further discussions regarding the location of the agency and a potential $25 million contribution from the Victorian Government for the establishment of the agency in Geelong.

The current focus of the agency is on getting the launch sites up and ready.

The Australian Government’s contribution to the Victorian launch is consistent with its announcement in May this year to provide $1 billion nationally towards NDIS launch.

The Australian Government has agreed to meet the total of any cost overrun associated with average package cost or higher than expected client numbers in launch sites.

The first stage of an NDIS will begin in mid-2013 and will provide care and support to thousands of people with significant and permanent disabilities in locations across the country.

The Australian Government sought expressions of interest from all states and territories to participate in this first stage.

For more information contact 1800 800 110 or visit www.ndis.gov.au.

Date: 12 August

Media Contact: Kate Thwaites (Macklin) 0429 067 500, Kate Walshe (Premier Baillieu) 0411 472 299, Michael Moore (Minister Wooldridge) 0400 719 355