The McGowan Government has today announced a further $8.5 million in funding has been provided to the disability sector through the WA Sector Transition Fund for 2020-21.
The Sector Transition Fund is designed to safeguard the future sustainability and build the capacity of the Western Australian disability sector.
The Department of Communities held two forums to identify transition issues and priority areas to help inform the latest funding round.
This funding boost will support the disability sector to prepare to meet NDIS Commission requirements and implement positive behaviour support frameworks.
It will provide tools to service providers to enhance quality and safeguarding practices; deliver increased workforce training and improve employment opportunities for people with disability through group-based peer support.
In May 2018, the State Government committed $20.3 million of funding over two years from 2018-19 to assist registered service providers in the disability services sector to make the transition to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) operating environment.
Since then, a further $14 million has been allocated for 2020-21 and $9 million is allocated for 2021-22 bringing total investment in transition support to $43.3 million.
The funding package announced today will continue to support people with disability, their families and carers to achieve the best possible outcomes and assist providers to continue to deliver and maintain the highest quality of supports and services:
- $1.6 million to boost training opportunities for the disability workforce;
- $1 million to support family members to self-advocate and for people with disability to achieve their employment goals;
- $3.75 million to build the capacity of service providers to support Aboriginal people, people with psychosocial disability and address thin markets in regional areas across WA;
- $2.15 million to support service providers meet the NDIS Commission requirements; and
- an additional $1.25 million has been allocated over and above the Sector Transition Fund for independent behaviour support practitioners to participate in quality assurance panels.
As stated by Disability Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The McGowan Government is committed to supporting the disability sector transition to the NDIS.
"Ongoing investments in the WA Sector Transition Fund total $43.3 million to date with money invested helping the disability sector transition to the NDIS up until 2022.
"This latest funding boost will support robust quality and safeguarding mechanisms for our disability service providers.
"It will also empower people with disability to achieve employment through group-based peer support.
"Prior to the roll-out of the NDIS, the disability sector in WA was already delivering high quality supports that promoted choice and control in an individualised funding framework.
"Western Australia's benchmark is high and the McGowan Government is committed to supporting the sector to continue to deliver the highest quality of services and for people with disability, their families and carers, to achieve the best possible outcomes."
