The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has celebrated its 10 th anniversary of the four initial trial sites chosen across Australia to mark the beginning of its work.
Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten said there were now almost 600,000 NDIS participants who had reported increased freedom and control over their lives, going out into their communities, working, making friends and spending their time as they chose.
“The introduction of the NDIS has seen a fundamental shift in the way we support people with disability,” Mr Shorten said.
“The NDIS is a life-changing piece of economic and social policy, and it is our duty to make sure it’s here for generations to come.”
He said the anniversary was only possible because of the grassroots movement of the disability community and the Every Australian Counts organisation, which galvanised thousands and called for the NDIS.
“I truly believe the NDIS is the best change politics has delivered in the 21st century,” Mr Shorten said.
“In the next 10 years, I want us to be able to say, together, we made the scheme better, and who knows, by then we might be the blueprint for other countries wanting to change how they support their citizens with disability.”
John Domandl, of Newcastle, NSW has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye condition causing vision loss.
“The NDIS has been wonderful for me, particularly for my physical and mental health,” Mr Domandl (pictured) said.
“As a person with vision loss, it can be very isolating, but now we can actually have people come to pick us up and take us out,” he said.
“It’s opened up a whole new world for me,” Mr Domandl said.
