The Fraser Coast city of Maryborough has become the first community in Queensland to host a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) assessment and referral team to support people with disability access the NDIS.
Minister for Disability Services, Coralee O’Rourke said the Assessment and Referral Team (ART) began supporting people with disability in Maryborough, South Burnett, North Burnett and the Fraser Coast earlier this week.
She said the new teams would identify people who might need extra help to apply for the NDIS, and make direct referrals for ART to prioritise.
“ART will then work with these people with disability to help them with the NDIS application process,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“People who are not eligible for the NDIS will be referred to the Queensland Community Support Scheme or mainstream agencies to link them with other support options.”
She said Queensland had negotiated $20 million from the Commonwealth Government as recognition that not enough new entrants had joined the NDIS across the State.
She said that at the end of 2019 almost 2,500 people with disability were receiving support through the NDIS in Maryborough, South Burnett, North Burnett and the Fraser Coast areas.
“To support the ART in Maryborough, a Local Champion will be appointed who has established relationships and local knowledge that will help the team reach more people in the area that may be eligible for the NDIS,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
She said at least three local ART case managers, together with one clinician, were to be located in Maryborough with additional staff brought in when required.
More information about the ART can be accessed from the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors website at this PS News link.
