NDIS TO LAUNCH IN THE HUNTER!
SHARON GRIERSON MP
Federal Member for Newcastle
JILL HALL MP
Federal Member for Shortland
THE HON JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
Federal Member for Hunter
THE HON GREG COMBET AM MP
Federal Member for Charlton
MEDIA RELEASE
1 August 2012
A National Disability Insurance Scheme will start in the Hunter region next year, benefiting thousands of local people with significant and profound disability, their families and carers.
Federal Labor members today welcomed the announcement that as part of the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme, about 10,000 people with disability in the Hunter area will have their needs assessed and receive individual care and support packages.
Member for Charlton, Greg Combet, said this was great news for the Hunter region.
“This means that from next year local people with disability, their families and carers will have the care and support they need to live good lives.
“People with disability will get with the support they need, when they need it, regardless of what their disability is or how they acquired it.”
Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, said the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments would work together to deliver better services in the area.
“For local people with significant and permanent disability, this means more control over their lives, more certainty they’ll get the care they need, and more opportunities for them to get involved in the local community.
“I’m really pleased that our region has been recognised and I’m proud to be part of a Labor Government that is leading the way on this historic reform.”
Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson, said a National Disability Insurance Scheme was a true Labor reform.
“We’ve all been lobbying really hard for an NDIS to come to our area because we know local people with disability have waited long enough for change.
“Starting in the Hunter next year, people with disability can start receiving the sort of care and support we all expect - the sort of care and support they’ve always deserved.”
The Gillard Government is contributing $1 billion for the first stage of the scheme across Australia, including an investment of more than $300 million for better services for people with disability in the Hunter.
The Australian Government will also fund the operation of the NDIS Launch Transition Agency to operate the launch.
New South Wales will contribute $35 million in new support, in addition to the $550 million they already provide for disability services in the Hunter region.
Member for Shortland, Jill Hall, paid tribute to the local disability advocates who had campaigned for an NDIS to come to the Hunter.
“This is because of them. They’ve been phoning, emailing and knocking on doors to push the case for an NDIS.
“We’ve heard them loud and clear and we’ve taken their message to Canberra.
“Today we can see that all the hard work has paid off.”
The work done in the Hunter will give the Government important information as it works to progress the national roll-out of an NDIS.
Under an NDIS people with disability in the Hunter region will:
• be assessed to receive individualised care and support packages;
• have decision-making power about their care and support, including choice of service provider;
• be assisted by local coordinators to help manage and deliver their support; and
• access a system they can easily navigate and that will link them to mainstream and community services.