Four new regions across the country and two new age groups in South Australia and Tasmania will enter the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from 1 January.
The NDIS will roll out in new locations in the Toowoomba region in Queensland, Central Highlands in Victoria and East Arnhem in the Northern Territory, where the first intake of NDIS participants will occur following the successful trial in the Barkly region. In Western Australia, the Perth Hills trial site will also expand to include residents in the local government areas of Bayswater, Bassendean, Chittering, Toodyay, York and Northam.
In South Australia and Tasmania, where the NDIS is being rolled out by age group, the Scheme will grow to include people aged 15 to 18 and 25 to 28 respectively.
National Disability Insurance Agency Acting CEO, Louise Glanville, said the NDIS would transform the lives of 460,000 Australians with disability, their families and carers over the next three years.
“Following the successful trial of the Scheme, we are in a unique period of transition with the commencement of the national rollout from 1 July 2016,” Ms Glanville said.
“As we continue the progressive rollout of the NDIS, 1 January is an important day for people across the country who will now have access to a fair and world-leading disability scheme.”
Ms Glanville said 1 January marked a particularly significant milestone for the residents of East Arnhem.
“The NDIS started in the Barkly region in July 2014, which played an important role in informing the rollout of the NDIS in remote areas across Australia,” Ms Glanville said.
“Now we are working with the East Arnhem community to ensure the transition to the NDIS is driven by the needs of local people with disabilities, their families and carers.”
By 2019, the NDIS will provide about 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.
Reasonable and necessary supports help people with disability achieve their goals, including independence, community involvement, employment and wellbeing. Supports may include personal care and support, access to the community, therapy services and essential equipment.
Watch (external) the NDIS 2016 year in review video.