Funding boost helps Queenslanders transition to NDIS

Queensland’s peak body for non-government disability services has received more than $700,000 in funding to help service providers transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which started rolling out across Queensland on 1 July.

Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke said a further three years of funding had been allocated to National Disability Services (NDS) Queensland in the 2016-17 State Budget, as part of a $5 million package for NDIS readiness initiatives, to ensure service providers were not left behind during the transition.

“The NDIS is the biggest social reform in more than 40 years, giving people with disability the power to decide how they access and receive their supports and to live the life they choose,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“By full implementation in July 2019, disability services will move from State to Commonwealth responsibility - this is an unprecedented change, and a major reform for the disability sector.

“This funding will help to deliver targeted activities to support service providers transition to the scheme, and will assist them in developing and implementing transition plans for their clients.

“These activities will be delivered in line with the phased rollout across the state, which means service providers will receive tailored and practical supports as they set up to operate under the scheme.

“Initially, these activities will focus on service providers who will transition to the scheme within the first and second year of the rollout, making sure they are ready when the NDIS comes to their region.”

Minister O’Rourke said service providers in rural and remote Queensland communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities would benefit from the additional funding.

“It’s important that service providers in small rural and remote communities have the same access to support as those in metro areas,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“This funding will enable NDS to continue to deliver and further extend their services into rural and remote areas, including remote Indigenous communities.

“Majority of the organisation’s focus in the coming year will be on assisting small to medium sized providers and areas with small markets.

“Our aim is to strengthen and support service providers to deliver effective supports during the transition to the NDIS, and this funding will help to achieve that.”

National Disability Services State Manager Richard Nelson said the funding would help disability service providers transition to the NDIS.

“The next three years are crucial for the success of the scheme and this funding is paramount,” he said.

“This investment will contribute to providers managing the transition to the NDIS effectively.

“It will increase organisational capacity to respond to the growing demand from people with disability for new and innovative supports and services.”

For information on the NDIS visit www.ndis.gov.au or call the National Disability Insurance Agency on 1800 800 110.

Media Contact:                                  Minister O’Rourke’s office                  3719 7170