Funding boost to help Indigenous people access the NDIS

The Palaszczuk Government has today (24 April) launched a project to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability living in south-east Queensland access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Minister for Disability Services and Seniors Coralee O'Rourke announced Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) would receive almost $250,000 to prepare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the south-east for the NDIS rollout.

“It’s very important every effort is made to ensure all Queenslanders benefit from the opportunities the NDIS presents,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“Around 38 per cent of the state's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reside in south-east Queensland, from Somerset in the north to the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast in the south, and west into the Lockyer Valley.

“Our experience with the rollout so far is that a higher level of engagement is required to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability register to receive the support they need under the NDIS.”

Mrs O’Rourke made the announcement during a visit to the IUIH’s Yulu-Burri-Ba Clinic at Capalaba.

Member for Capalaba Don Brown said the Palaszczuk Government was focused on ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders with disability received the support they need to access the NDIS.  

“This funding will help enlist the support of a local service provider specialising in Indigenous health issues to connect with this target group and engage them in the NDIS transition process,” Mr Brown said

IUIH Chief Executive Officer Adrian Carson said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability were much more likely to come on board the scheme if they are approached by a person or organisation they trust and with whom they have an existing relationship.

“It's also important they can get the information and help they need easily and quickly from an organisation that is based in their community and which understands and values their cultural identity,” he said.

“NDIS Readiness is an urgent priority for Indigenous communities in the south-east because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 1.7 times more likely to have a disability than non-Indigenous people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 2.5 times more likely to have a disability.

“This funding will help us reach out to them through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the south-east to ensure everybody who needs disability support receives it from day one.”

The IUIH NDIS Readiness Project will employ four full-time and one part-time staff members.

To date, the NDIS rollout has been completed in Townsville, Hinchinbrook, Burdekin, west to Mt Isa, and up to the gulf; Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays; from Toowoomba west to the border; and in the Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset regions.

The rollout is currently underway in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Gladstone and west to the borders.

In the south-east, the rollout is due to begin on 1 July 2018 for Logan and Redlands, Brisbane suburbs north of Brisbane River, Brisbane suburbs south of Brisbane River, Fraser Coast, North Burnett, South Burnett and Cherbourg, Gold Coast and Hinterland, as well as in Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Croydon, Etheridge, Cape York and Torres Strait.

This will be followed by rollout in Moreton Bay including Strathpine and Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie on 1 January 2019.

ENDS

Media Contact: Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389