The National Disability Insurance Scheme (also called the NDIS) is the new way of providing disability support in Australia.
This is a helpful video released by the National Disability Insurance Scheme to explain exactly what it is. It breaks down the complicatedness of the scheme and explains it in an easy to understand format. We hope the explanation is beneficial to you or someone you know.
What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency, or NDIA.
The NDIS is one component of the National Disability Strategy which brings community, government and industry together to address the challenges faced by people with disability, and ensures they are supported by mainstream services such as health, education and transport and the wider community.
The aim of the NDIS is simple: To provide Australians who are born with or acquire a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live and enjoy an ordinary life.
The vision of the NDIS is also simple: To build independence, and increase opportunities and social participation for people living with disability in Australia.
Source: Shutterstock
The NDIS consists of two parts: NDIS funded supports for eligible participants, and Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (or ILC which is all about connecting your with your community) – for all people with disability.
People with disability who are eligible to become NDIS participants will receive funded support.
Each NDIS participant has a plan that focuses on building their independence, and increasing opportunities. This could mean participating in activities in your community, getting a job or learning a new skill.
The important thing is that the participant has choice and control of the supports they need to live the lift they want.
By 2020 around 460,000 people with disability living in Australia will have a funded plan under the NDIS.
The second part of the NDIS is Information, Linkages and Capacity Building or ILC.
ILC is for all people with disability, whether they are an NDIS participant or not. ILC has two objectives:
- That people with disability have the ability to achieve their goals
- That people with disability are included in all aspects of community life. ILC is all about inclusion – it’s about creating connections between people with disability and the communities they live in.
The NDIS is not just for the expected 460,000 participants, or for the 2 million people living with disability in Australia, the NDIS is for all of us.
Data released on 31st March this year showed that of the 162,223 Australians now benefitting from the NDIS, 44,945 had not received State, Territory or Commonwealth support prior to entering the Scheme.
“These figures show that under the NDIS, more and more Australians with disability are receiving better and more effective support and assistance than ever have before,” Mr Robert De Luca, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer said.
“In the last six months the NDIA has prioritised improving the quality of experience for participants, including investing in more face to face planning to ensure people are listened to and better quality plans are the result,” Mr De Luca said.
Mr De Luca said the results showed the good progress being made to deliver the NDIS.
“Early survey results show that these investments are starting to have an impact – with 90 per cent of participants surveyed agreeing, or strongly agreeing, their planner had listened to them and they had enough time to tell their story”.
Download the “About the NDIS” pdf
We’ve covered the NDIS in a previous post, showing How the NDIS Is Demolishing Disability Employment Barriers. Connect Ability Australia will be sharing stories from NDIS participants and further explanations in future posts.
Empowering people to achieve is important, and we believe that whole heartedly. We create fulfilling opportunities for people and communities through our passion. You can view our services here and contact us if you have any questions about the NDIS or our services by calling (02) 4962 1000 or emailing contact@connectabilityaus.org.au.
