Successful NDIS trial - on time and on budget

The three-year trial phase of Australia’s world-leading National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been successfully completed on time and on budget, a new report reveals.

The NDIS Quarterly Report for April-June 2016 released today - the last of the three-year trial period - showed $2.4 billion had been committed to help people with disability across the country, with 35,695 participants successfully joining the Scheme since July 2013.

Highlights of the quarterly report include:

• $2.4 billion committed for participant support costs
• 35,695 participants in the Scheme
• 53,423 plans approved (including successive plans)
• Survey of participants - 95 per cent of people’s experience either good or very good.
• 3519 registered service providers
• 50 per cent of active participants received disability services for the first time
• The largest amounts overall - $577 million - has been paid for assistance with daily life at home, in the community, education and at work.

“The report shows the NDIS is within budget for the three-year trial period and is set to provide much needed support to 460,000 Australians by 2019,” National Disability Insurance Agency chief executive David Bowen said.

“This result provides peace of mind to the entire community that if their child or loved one is born with or acquires a significant disability they will get the support they need,” Mr Bowen said.

“A family member, a friend or someone in your street is likely to be assisted by the Scheme,” Mr Bowen said.

Mr Bowen said the trial demonstrated the ability of the Scheme to learn and build with the necessary agility to deliver much needed supports within the funding budget.

In 2011 the Productivity Commission estimated that, once fully operational, the cost of the NDIS would be $22 billion a year.

With 10-times more data than was available to the Productivity Commission and data that is more reliable and up-to-date, $22 billion continues to be the best estimate of the cost of the NDIS when it is fully rolled out nationally in 2019-20.

Feedback from participants in the Scheme has been very positive, Mr Bowen said.

“The Scheme has won overwhelming support from those it was set up to help with a survey of participants indicating 95 per cent of people’s experience was either good or very good,” Mr Bowen said.

Following the successful trial, the Agency has now moved to a unique transition period that will see the Scheme gradually rolled out across Australia over the next three years.

NDIA chairman Bruce Bonyhady said the three-year transition represented a significant shift to a more equitable and inclusive society for 460,000 Australian’s with disability, their families and carers.

“This is a great scheme that will boost care for some of Australia’s most vulnerable, increase productivity and generate jobs,” he said.

He said the Scheme also made strong economic sense.

“The NDIS is the best approach for helping those with disability and maintaining Australia’s long-term budget security,” he said.

For more information on when the NDIS will be available in new areas and how people with disability, their families and carers, providers and the community can get NDIS Ready, visit the NDIS website .

NDIS state and territory snapshots at the end of trial

Background

Australia is NDIS Ready video (external)