NDIS available to more Queenslanders

More Queenslanders will soon have access to the life-changing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as it rolls out to people in the local government areas of Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday from tomorrow. 

According to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) the number of people receiving disability support in Queensland is predicted to almost double to 91,000 by 2019.

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, Jane Prentice, said it was a historic day for the people of Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday.

“The NDIS is the largest and most important change to the delivery of support for people with disability this country has ever seen,” she said.

“It gives families of people with permanent and significant disability peace of mind that their loved one will get the support they need.

“The NDIS is now a reality for local people with disability, their family and carers.

“While people living with disabilities would be the primary beneficiaries, the NDIS would also deliver a social, economic and jobs dividend for the state.

“The NDIS will generate jobs and local investment and this will ensure people with disability have the assistance they need to help them achieve their goals.

“The NDIS will boost the Queensland economy by $2.5 billion and double the disability services workforce to more than 29,000,” Mrs Prentice said.

The NDIS began to roll out across Queensland earlier this year to residents in Townsville, Charters Towers and Palm Island. On 1 July, the Scheme became available in the remainder of the Townsville regional area in Hinchinbrook, Burdekin, west to Mount Isa and up to the Gulf.

The next Queensland region to benefit from the $22 billion Scheme will be Toowoomba and west to the borders, from 1 January 2017.

Visit the NDIS website at www.ndis.gov.au to find out how people with disability, their families and carers, providers and the community can get NDIS Ready.