National Disability Insurance Scheme Update
Wed 14 December 2011
In August 2011, the Productivity Commission released its report from its inquiry into lifetime care and support for people with disability. The report is a comprehensive document describing the purpose and the nature of a new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). There is bipartisan support for the introduction of a NDIS and the Australian Government is moving quickly to design the new system.
Disability Support Organisations
One of the features of the new system, according to the Productivity Commission Report, will be the role of independent support agencies, separate to both government and service providers, referred to as Disability Support Organisations (DSOs).
NDIS Advisory Group
On 14 October, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin and Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, announced the members of an Advisory Group to work with all governments in laying the foundations for reform of the system of disability care and support.
The new appointees to the Advisory Group are Dr Ken Baker, Dr Lorna Hallahan, Ms Joan McKenna-Kerr, Mr Brendan O’Reilly and Ms Fran Vicary, who will join Advisory Group Chairman Dr Jeff Harmer AO, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO and Mr Bruce Bonyhady AM.
Part of the Advisory Group’s role is to talk with people around the country about work to guide the foundations for an NDIS, as well as drawing on expertise from the disability sector and outside through expert working groups to consider particular elements of reform
New NDIS Agency
On 3 December 2011, International Day of People with Disability, the Australian Government announced the establishment of a new agency to lead the work to design the launch of a NDIS.
The new agency’s work will build on the foundation reforms agreed by the Commonwealth, States and Territories at the meeting of the Select Council on Disability Reform in October. Work to deliver the foundation reforms is now underway.
The agency will also oversee new projects that identify practical ways to prepare the disability sector and workforce and people with disability, to move to a new ways of delivering disability services.
The Gillard Government will provide $10 million for projects that examine how to deliver individual, personalised care, with the aim of ending the crisis-driven approach that is still often applied.
Throughout 2012, the Gillard Government will work closely with State and Territory governments, people with disability, their families and carers, service providers and the disability care and support workforce on the critical design and development work that is needed for a launch.
The new projects aim to give the disability workforce, service providers and people with disability the opportunity to work with government on the development of a launch of an NDIS.
New Portfolio: Minister for Disability Reform
The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to firmly place disability reform at the centre of the Gillard Government.
Ms Macklin has been appointed to the new position of Minister for Disability Reform, in addition to her responsibilities as Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Senator Jan McLucas will continue her work as the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers.