Financial support for Canberrans with disability who are not included in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will be provided in the ACT’s 2018–19 Budget, according to the Minister for Disability, Rachel Stephen-Smith.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the Budget would provide new funding for people with high or complex support needs not currently met by the NDIS as well as support for additional advocacy services for people needing assistance to navigate the Scheme.
“This transition to an entirely new service model is complex and the ACT Government is committed to ensuring that no-one seeking support gets left behind,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“That is why we will deliver $1.8 million for an Integrated Service Response as we continue to support the transition to the NDIS.”
She said of this sum, $1.1 million would be available in 2018–19 to purchase necessary support for people with a disability who had high and complex support needs that were not being fully met by the NDIS.
“The measure will also fund coordination staff within the Office for Disability to work with the NDIA and the mainstream service system to ensure that those people with complex support needs receive a coordinated service response,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“In response to the challenges experienced by some NDIS participants, this funding includes $400,000 over two years for independent individual advocacy for people who require assistance to navigate the NDIS.”
She said the Integrated Service Response program would monitor service gaps and issues arising from the implementation of the NDIS, and work with the National Disability Insurance Agency and across the ACT Government for further action.
