From 1 July2019, the Northern Territory will have completed transition to the NationalDisability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ensuring thatall Territorians no matter where they live are able to access high qualitydisability services.
Itis expected that the NDIS will create 1,000 jobs; and provide around $204 millionin funded supports for around 6,500 Territorians with disability, includingpsychosocial disability.
Through theBilateral Agreement with the Commonwealth Government, the Northern Territorywill continue to support the implementation of the NDIS in the Territorythrough its annual funding contribution.
Thiscontribution is $103.6 million per annum, indexed at four per cent perannum, and is comprised of both cash and in-kind contributions. The in-kindcontributions include the existing services of Specialist School Transport,funded through the Departmentof Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, and Personal Care in Schools fundedthrough the Department of Education.
The NDIS is providing life-changing support to more than2,200 people with disability in the Territory, with over 500 people receivinggovernment funded support for the first time.
The NorthernTerritory Government continues to support people with disability who are noteligible for the NDIS through:
communityallied health services, including physiotherapy, speech therapy andoccupational therapy, for:
childrenaged 0-17 years, including in the school setting, who have an identifieddevelopmental delay in one area, who do not meet NDIS Early Childhood EarlyIntervention (ECEI) pathways or ongoing NDIS Participant eligibility; and
adultswhose impairment is mild to moderate, or temporary and not the result of apermanent disability (for example, people with chronic health conditions)
communityequipment and modification provision
CommonwealthGovernment aged care assessments in remote communities; and
forensicdisability services.
The 2019/20Territory Budget allows for the continuation of grant funding to organisationsfor the provision of peak body operations, advocacy and information services,and awards programs.
These serviceswill support and advance opportunities for people with disability to fulfiltheir potential, be included in everyday life, and ensure their rights forequity and access to services.
As stated by Minister for Disabilities,Natasha Fyles:
I look forward to seeing the disabilityservice sector go from strength to strength following full transitions. I would like to reassure all Territoriansthat the Northern Territory Government is committed to ensuring thatTerritorians with a disability have access to high quality services and willcontinue to monitor the progress of the NDIS in the NT.
Now that thetransition to the NDIS is complete, the work of the Office of Disability withinthe Department of Health will be focussed on monitoring and reporting againstthe NDIS and whole of government disability policy and program development.This includes a Northern Territory Disability Strategy. As part of ourcommitment the Northern Territory Government will continue to supportTerritorians with a disability, including those that are not eligible for theNDIS.
