On July 1, 2016, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) moved from a trial phase to a full national roll-out.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NDIS now provides funding packages to more than 25,000 Australians under 65 who have permanent impairment that substantially reduces their intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical, psychological and social functioning.
The number receiving the packages is expected to grow to about 460,000 when the scheme becomes fully operational in July 2019. When NDIS participants turn 65, they have the option to stay in the scheme or receive support through aged care services. People who develop impairments from 65 years onwards receive aged care support.
There are 4.3 million Australians aged 16 to 65 with disability and many will not meet the criteria to be eligible for the NDIS. They may still receive assistance through the scheme's newly introduced program providing information, linkages and referrals to connect people with disability, their families and carers with community and mainstream supports.
The NDIS will not replace the Disability Support Pension, which provides income support through Centrelink to people aged 16 to 65 who are unable to work because of their disability. The NDIS provides additional funding to meet the special needs of a person with disability, such as to buy a wheelchair or have assistance at home.
The NDIS was established in response to a 2011 Productivity Commission report that found disability services were "underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient". The commission recommended a system of flexible individual funding packages that could be used to purchase disability supports.
Before the NDIS, state governments contracted disability service providers to deliver specified services. For instance, some delivered personal care in the home, while others provided day activity centres and other services for people with intellectual disability.
Service provisions across different states varied. The person receiving support was usually assigned to one disability service provider and restricted to the support that agency provided, even when they wanted something different. It was also difficult for people to change service providers.
Disability activists supported the 2011 recommendations for the NDIS scheme and its focus on choice and empowerment to help those with disability meet their goals.
The amount allocated by the NDIS varies across individuals. Some eligible people in trial sites haven't received any funding such as when their goals were to maintain informal contact with family and friends. By contrast, some received large allocations, including those leaving disability institutions who needed considerable support to live in a five-person group home, a shared flat or alone with support. The average individual allocation to date is A$39,600.
People with disability, or their family or advocate, can use the NDIS eligibility check list to see if they are eligible. If so, they can apply to receive support through the NDIS. If their application is accepted, a planning conversation is held with an NDIS representative about the person's life situation, current supports and hopes for the future.
NDIS funding is available for:
- Helping people with personal care such as getting in and out of bed and showering, managing money house cleaning and other domestic activities
- Aids and equipment such as wheelchairs and hearing aids
- Psychological, social and speech therapy and physiotherapy
- Social participation activities such as in clubs
- Transport so people can stay in touch with friends and their community.
The NDIS website has two useful booklets explaining NDIS eligibility: My NDIS Pathway-Your guide to being an NDIS participant; and NDIS Ready-Communications Toolkit.