Delivering the NDIS: roll-out complete across Australia as Christmas and Cocos Islands join world-leading scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is now available to all eligible Australians, no matter where they live.

Today marks the completion of the staged national geographical roll-out of the NDIS with Christmas Island and Cocos Island joining the world-leading Scheme.

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, said whilst today’s milestone is significant, we are continuing to build the Scheme in a practical way.

‘It’s been incredible to see the growth of the NDIS in seven years, with more than 364,000 people now having benefited from the Scheme, with 154,000 of those receiving disability-related supports for the first time,’ Mr Robert said.

‘Now, with the NDIS geographical footprint covering all of Australia, we can build on changes being made as part of the Australian Government’s plan to deliver the NDIS, particularly in delivering better long term outcomes.

‘At the launch of the Australian Government’s NDIS Plan, I said we were about 80 per cent there in terms of building the NDIS, today I believe we are about 90 per cent there.’

The NDIS is making a significant difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians with disability, their families and carers.

The NDIS Participant Outcomes Report released today measures the progress of participants since they joined the Scheme. 

Key findings of the report include:

  • After two years in the Scheme, 94 per cent of parents/carers of children aged from birth to before starting school believe the NDIS had improved their child’s development 
  • After two years in the Scheme, 91 per cent of parents/carers of children aged from birth to before starting school believe the NDIS had improved their child’s access to specialist services 
  • Almost 90 per cent of participants aged 25 and over said they now had someone outside their home to call for practical help 
  • The employment levels for family members/carers for participants aged 0-14 has increased by 5 per cent in the two years since their child entered the Scheme 

Minister Robert said it is pleasing to see the positive impact the Scheme is having on both participants and those closest to them, especially the longer they are in the NDIS.

Within the next five years, the NDIS will enable an estimated 500,000 Australians who have permanent and significant disability to access supports, many for the first time.

More information on the latest data release