Historic step to a National Disability Insurance Scheme
As the most fundamental social policy reform since Medicare, a National Disability Insurance Scheme will make sure Australians with significant and permanent disability have access to the care and support they need to participate in society, no matter where they live or how they acquired the disability.
The current system
Australia's disability services system is underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient.
The system gives people with disability little choice, no certainty of access to appropriate supports and little scope to participate in society.
The stresses on the system are growing, with rising costs for all governments.
Therefore the Government is committed to the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to provide individualised care and support to people with significant and permanent disability.
An NDIS
An NDIS will involve fundamental changes to the way disability care and support is provided in Australia.
An NDIS will have wide-ranging benefits. It will provide ongoing individualised support to people with significant and permanent disability that will take into consideration a person's aspirations for participation and work, support requirements and needs of their carers.
It will provide peace of mind to all Australians; if they or a loved one have a significant or permanent disability they will be looked after.
First stage of an NDIS
The Government will commit $1.0 billion over four years to the first stage of an NDIS.
From July 2013, an NDIS will begin operating in launch locations across Australia.
At this time, around 10,000 people will start to be assessed. This will be expanded to 20,000 people from mid‑2014.
Negotiations with states and territories will begin immediately on selected sites to be announced in late–2012.
Implementation of this first stage will inform discussion with states and territories on future steps.
Client-centred approach for people eligible for individualised NDIS funded support