ndis
NDIS
viewpoint
With South Australia in the thick of
National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS) roll out, Link asked South Australian
Minister for Disabilities Katrine Hildyard
for her views on the significant social
reform. Here’s what she had to say.
T
In the coming years, our South
he National Disability acceptable to South Australians with Insurance Scheme is a once disability, to their families and carers Australian disability sector is
in a generation reform that – and certainly unacceptable to me. expected to double in size, going
will improve the lives of 32,000 South
Australians living with disability.
This is why our South Australian
The NDIA needs to better
resource its efforts to meet
transition deadlines because
from the current 6,000 to 12,000 full
time equivalent jobs.
We are committed to reaching out
Government was one of the first people with disability have waited to job seekers and promoting jobs in
jurisdictions to sign up, starting a long enough for better supports this rewarding sector, to maximise this
state-wide trial for children under 13 and to be at the centre of decision job creation potential and support
back in 2013. making about their lives; the rollout South Australian organisations
must continue to schedule. to have the capacity to positively
In accordance with the agreement
struck with the Commonwealth, I recently took a proposal to an agreement we expect to be prevent gaps emerging for complex honoured, our South Australian and regional clients to the November South Australian Government
Government will commit $723 million Disability Reform Council meeting has held a series of NDIS Expos
a year toward the $1.5 billion that will and I am pleased the NDIA has throughout our State where people
be spent on disability services across agr eed to work urgently on this. have been able to access information
our State.
I am also reassured that the
support and embrace this growth.
Over the past 12 months, our
about services and the NDIS and, for
NDIA is moving back to face-to- those wanting to work in the sector,
means South Australians with face planning and continuing to information about career pathways.
disability will finally have the choice improve its interactions with people of services and supports they transitioning to the scheme.
This huge increase in investment
deserve to meet their individual
The Productivity Commission
People with disability shouldn’t
have to wait any longer to get better
support, nor should we have to wait
needs and to enable them to actively also found the employee cap any longer for the benefits of the new
participate in community life and in placed on the NDIA by the Federal jobs the NDIS will bring to every part
our economy. Government is increasing the of South Australia.
There have recently been some
12
Minister Hildyard with Jack
at an NDIS expo in Ceduna,
South Australia.
demand for outsourcing. I strongly
The NDIS is a social reform and
suggestions that the Federal urge the Commonwealth to remove we must always remember that
Government should slow down the the cap and invest in building core people, and choices about their lives,
rate of transition to assist the NDIA capacity, rather than expending must be at its centre.
to catch up but this is simply not funds on consultants.
ndis
www.ndis.gov.au
linkonline.com.au