The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has reached agreement with six organisations successful in a recent early intervention tender.
The agreements guarantee ACT children have immediate access to vital early childhood supports when they transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2015.
The successful tenderers for the provision of ACT early childhood intervention services are Northcott, Noah’s Ark, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Autism Spectrum Australia, EACH and SDN Child & Family Services.
A forum is being held today for parents and carers of children requiring services to meet the various organisations. NDIS ACT Trial Site Manager, Jillian Paull said all of the providers have the capacity, experience and interest to provide first-rate early intervention services in the ACT.
“They are all child focused and family centred, and the range ensures all children with a disability or developmental delay will be catered for,” Ms Paull said.
“Also this tender process was not an exclusive contract and I would like to encourage all providers to still register with the NDIA to provide supports in the ACT.
“We want a competitive and responsive early intervention market for children in the ACT and this tender process was one mechanism we put in place to ensure an adequate level of service capacity was available for children when they transition to the Scheme in 2015 but one thing we want parents to know is they will always have choice and control over what service provider they use.”
Ms Paull said if parents have not spoken to the NDIA yet about an NDIS plan for their child, she encourages them to do so.
“You can contact the NDIA to make an appointment on 1800 800 110 or visit us at 212 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon or Nature Conservation House, 153 Emu Bank, Belconnen.”
If people would like more information on this tender process, they can contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110.
For further information on the NDIS and how it can transform people with disability and their carers’ lives, visit the NDIS website.
NDIA media contact: 0477 387 362 or [email protected]