The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the biggest disability services reform ever undertaken in Australia. It is expected that 460,000 Australians, including 100,000 Victorians, will be participants of the NDIS by full rollout completion in 2019.
The core principle of the NDIS is that eligible participants should be supported to exercise choice and control in pursuit of their goals. The participant is at the centre of the process, so it is ‘participant directed care’ that funds reasonable and necessary supports to help people with a disability reach their goals.
The disability support services sector is in the process of shifting away from traditional block funding to participant directed care under the NDIS. Under the NDIS, eligible participants will go through a planning process and be provided with a funding package based on participant goals and needs. The participant themselves then select service providers to provide supports.
The NDIS will provide all Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to help reach their goals. Goals may include greater independence, community involvement, employment and/or improved well-being. The goals are participant driven. You, the participant, are in control!
A NDIS participant is able, during the planning process, or at any time, to make a plan management request that specifies who the participant wishes to manage the funding for supports under their plan. The plan must specify that the funding is to be managed wholly, or to an extent specified in the plan, by either the participant themselves (Self-Managed), a registered plan management provider (such as Plan Managers), the NDIS Agency, or a combination of the three.
NDIS Transition schedule
The roll-out of the NDIS in Victoria commenced in July 2013 with the trial areas of Geelong, Colac, Otway Shire, Surfcoast and Queenscliff. It is expected the rollout will continue across Victoria over the next few years through to July 2019.
The upcoming roll-out in Inner East and Outer East Melbourne as at November 1, 2017 will cover an estimated 15,000 participants.
The regions below transition during the following periods. Visit the NDIS in Victoria page for specific dates and information. https://ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/VIC.html#tran
1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017
North East Melbourne
Central Highlands
Loddon
1 July 2017 – 30 June 2018
Outer East Melbourne
Inner East Melbourne
Ovens Murray
Inner Gippsland
Wimmera South West (formally known as Western District)
Bayside Peninsula
Hume Moreland
1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019
Southern Melbourne
Brimbank Melton
Western Melbourne
Goulburn
Mallee
Outer Gippsland
