9 October 2013
NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME
The Coalition in line with its pre-election commitment has directed that DisabilityCare resume its original name of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The return to NDIS has two purposes. The first is to leave behind a name that was seen by many people with disability as patronising and not reflecting the intent of the scheme to have the individual at the centre and in charge.
People with disability don’t so much want to be cared for as supported to be as independent as they can.
The second purpose is to reinforce and underline the insurance principles of the scheme by having this reflected in the name. The scheme is about value for money, support on a needs basis, a strong actuarial focus and minimising costs over time through early intervention.
The NDIS Agency has been instructed to take a low cost and no frills approach to reverting to the NDIS name. Current printed materials will be exhausted and existing branding, colour scheme and livery will be retained and as many changes as possible made in house.
The previous government wasted millions of dollars on a DisabilityCare rebranding and advertising campaign that confused the public and conveyed no information about the operation of the scheme.
It will take around twelve months for all ancillary material to be changed, but most changes will occur over several months. By taking a common sense approach costs will be kept to a minimum.
The Federal Government looks forward to working with its State and Territory partners to making the NDIS a reality.