Major milestone as NDIS marks 200,000

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has reached a major milestone with today’s announcement welcoming its 200,000th Australian receiving support through the Scheme.

The NDIS is fully operational in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia with ongoing roll-out in remaining States and Territories, including the first regions of Western Australia joining the Scheme on 1 July 2018 and the Southern Melbourne Region joining on 1 September 2018.

 

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, said the roll-out of the NDIS was having a positive impact on Australians with disability, their families and carers, as well as bringing jobs and economic growth.

 

“Since launching in 2013 at four trial sites, the NDIS has grown to supporting more than 200,000 Australians, including around 60,000 people who are now receiving support for the very first time,” Mr Fletcher said.

 

“The NDIS is one of the most important social reforms in Australian history, not only delivering for those with disabilities, but driving new important economic benefits by creating new markets and new business and employment opportunities.

 

“Together, we are building and delivering the NDIS for an estimated 460,000 Australians by 2020.”

 

Mr Fletcher said the NDIS is transforming the lives of people with disability across the country.

 

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson, said empowering Australians with disability to live their best life and achieve their goals is why implementing the NDIS is so important.

 

“In the most recent NDIS Quarterly Report, over 90 per cent of parents or carers of children with disability under the age of five said the NDIS has had a positive impact on their child’s development,” Ms Henderson said.

 “While this is strong progress, I look forward to working with the National Disability Insurance Agency to further improve the NDIS for all Australian’s with disability, their families and carers.”