Jessica Irvine, Sydney Morning Herald, 23 January 2017
... Behind the scenes, the wheels of Australian government are in feverish full swing to build one of the largest pieces of social and economic infrastructure this country has ever seen.
In terms of cost, it's on par with building the National Broadband Network – every year.
It's the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) of course, this nation's most ambitious attempt ever to deliver more money and better services to the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Australians should feel rightly proud of the scheme. But vigilance is also required ...
Where do I find ...
NDIS eNewsletter, 19 January 2016
Improvements have been made to the factsheets and publications page, if you’re looking for readily available (NDIS) information, it’s the place to start.
Each one is short and succinct, providing you with enough information to understand each topic. So if you’re ever in need of more specific and helpful information - all on one page - make sure you check it out! |
The NDIS in 2017 – a year of promise but great challenges
Jim Simpson, NSW Council for Intellectual Disability, 16 January 2017
The NDIS legislation is about people with substantial disability having an enforceable right to “reasonable and necessary support” and having “choice and control” over how that support is provided and who provides it. It is a fundamental step forward in increasing the availability and individual focus of this support for people with disabilities in Australia.
In NSW, the disability support budget will increase greatly and the number of people receiving disability support should rise from 80,000 to 140,000. However, there are many major hurdles that must be overcome for this vision to become reality ...
'Don't cut uni research funding to help NDIS': UQ vice chancellor
Tony Moore, Sydney Morning Herald, 15 January 2016
It is a mistake to take research money from universities to fund gaps in the National Disabilities Insurance Scheme, the new chairman of Australia's high-profile Group of Eight (Go8) university body, Queenslander Professor Peter Hoj said this week.
"We absolutely agree the NDIS should be funded adequately ," Professor Hoj said ... "Damage research and you damage not only the medical advances that come from research, but indeed the economy which sustains many of the services we wish to have available in the long term" ...
- The NDIS Must Not Be a Trade-Off, Wendy Williams, Probono News Australia, 16 January 2017 - The National Disability Insurance Scheme must not be funded from trade-offs the disability sector has argued, as tension mounts over federal government plans to transfer a $3.7 billion education fund into the initiative.
Empowered clients do well under NDIS but older, rural people struggle: review
Linda Belardi,
Community Care Review, 19 January 2017
The majority of clients in the National Disability Insurance Scheme trial have enjoyed greater choice and control under the new program, but some have found themselves to be worse off under the scheme, an evaluation has found.
Some 15 to 17 per cent of participants reported having poorer outcomes in terms of their choice and control and were accessing fewer supports than they did prior to the NDIS trial ...
The role of funded services and support
Community Resources Unit, 2016
... As we move to a new era with more flexibility, we have the chance to rethink how formal support can be incorporated into a person’s life and what an ideal combination of supports would be. The gradual introduction of individualised funding over recent years has highlighted the potential for the formal to usurp or take over the informal and we see the cost of that in the loneliness and disconnection in many people’s lives ...
'Bringing together research and sporting excellence so all kids can play and dance'
A survey to help build inclusive physical activity programs around Australia for all children, regardless of developmental challenges or disabilities -
click here to go to the survey website for more information and to complete the survey.
Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, 25 January 2017
The Australian Government is providing a package of more than $15.3 million to help people prepare for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), through the NDIS Sector Development Fund ...
NDIS: Federal Government announces independent review of National Disability Insurance Scheme
Henry Belot,
ABC News, 20 January 2017
he Federal Government has announced an independent review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to examine overall costs, value for money and its long-term sustainability.
Treasurer Scott Morrison announced the Productivity Commission review on Friday afternoon with a position paper to be released in May, followed by a report in September ...
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The official NDIS website provides access to documents, and up to date information about how the NDIS works, and NDIS events such as local workshops and webinars.
NDIS and Me
People with Down syndrome and/or their families and carers can join the closed Facebook Group, NDIS and Me, for discussion specifically about the NDIS and people with Down syndrome.
Disability Loop - a way to find out more about the
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Disability Loop is a project funded by the NDIS. It is run by, and for, people with disability and their allies.
Two other closed Facebook groups (only members can see the posts) that you might find useful for answering particular queries are:
- NDIS Grassroots Discussion - a large group run for and by people with all kinds of disabilities, and welcoming of carers - the administrators are very experienced in managing discussions that can become robust at times, as criticism of the NDIS is raised
- the newer and smaller I Love NDIS aims to promote discussion of individual's successes in putting their plans together and implementing them.
