SENATOR THE HON. MITCH FIFIELD

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE SENATE

SARAH HENDERSON MP

MEMBER FOR CORANGAMITE

5 February 2015

NDIS now supporting over 10,000 people with disability

 

More than 10,000 Australians with disability and their families now have individualised support plans with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

 

The Scheme is now operating in seven states and territories, with trial sites ranging from metropolitan to remote areas, and with participant cohorts including young children through to adults.

Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield said at full Scheme, more than 460,000 Australians with disability will benefit.

 

“The NDIS puts people with disability, their families and carers at the centre of the Scheme and supports them to meet their goals and aspirations,” Minister Fifield said.

 

Sarah Henderson, Member for Corangamite, said the NDIS trial site in the Barwon was already helping over 3,300 people with disability in the local area.

 

“It is extremely exciting to see the lives of Australians with disability and their families in the Barwon region being transformed by the NDIS,” Mrs Henderson said.

 

“It is finally giving them the level of support that they need to enjoy full economic and social participation,” she said.

 

Having the NDIS headquarters in Geelong is also a great economic benefit to the city and demonstrates the Abbott Government’s commitment to jobs in our region,” she said.

Minister Fifield said negotiations have commenced to determine how each state and territory would transition to full Scheme over the next few years.

 

“I look forward to working with my state and territory counterparts as we lay down the framework through which the NDIS will be rolled out to people with disability in each jurisdiction,” Minister Fifield said.

 

“The NDIS is vital to the Government’s agenda to helping more people with disability find and keep a job, because having the day-to-day living support that they need will put more people with disability in a better position to be able to consider employment.”

 

“The Scheme is just one of many reasons why the Abbott Government is working to repair the Budget – so that we can fully fund the NDIS now and into the future,” Senator Fifield said.

 

Media contact for Minister Fifield: Lydia Paterson | 0409 792 081 | lydia.paterson@dss.gov.au

Media contact for Sarah Henderson MP: Scott Barnes | 0403 946 593 | scott.barnes@aph.gov.au