New Year marks new rollout regions for NDIS
More people living with disability in Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia will now have access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as the rollout of the government run initiative continues.
The latest rollout across the three states went live as of 1 January 2018 and affects Tasmanians with disability between the ages 29-34, people living in the Rockhampton, Gladstone and west to the borders regions of Queensland and people aged 18-64 years in a number of South Australian areas including Eyre Western, Far North, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, Southern Adelaide, Yorke and Mid North regions.
The rollout for the new age group in Tasmania alone aims to generate more than 4,500 new jobs.
Assistant Minister for Disability Services Jane Prentice, says the continued rollout of the NDIS across the three states, including Tasmania, is an important milestone for people with disability, their families, carers and the broader local community, adding that from July 1 2018, children aged 0-3 years and adults aged 35-49 years will also gain access to the Scheme in Tasmania.
“I am pleased to announce the continued rollout of the NDIS… and I welcome people who are existing state clients and other eligible residents into the Scheme,” she says.
“The NDIS is one of the largest social policy reforms in Australia’s history, it is already empowering [people] with disability, helping them to fulfill their goals and participate in community life.
“People are excited about the NDIS and the impact it will have on their lives and I share their enthusiasm as it gives all Australians peace of mind that if their child or loved one is born with or acquires a permanent and significant disability that they will get the support they need.”
Once fully implemented in 2019, the NDIS is expected to support around 10,600 people with disability in Tasmania, 4,900 people in the Rockhampton, Gladstone and west to the borders region of Queensland, and 32,3000 people across South Australia.
A growth that Assistant Minister Prentice says will provide economic benefit to the nation, including Tasmania.
“The NDIS will also generate jobs and local investment which will ensure people with disability have the assistance they need to help them achieve their goals,” she says.
”Over the coming years, an additional $260 million will be injected into the local economy as a result of the NDIS rolling out across Tasmania.”
Once fully implemented in 2019, the NDIS is expected to support about 460,000 people nationally.