Thousands of Brimbank residents will have to wait another 15 months to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
NDIS facilitator Jacqui Pierce said the scheme, which provides better financial support for people with disabilities, should start rolling out nationally on July 1 next year.
But the scheme will not be available to Brimbank residents until October 2018.
Ms Pierce told Star Weekly earlier this year the NDIS would enable a “paradigm shift” for people needing support.
“We are tipping the system on its head,” she said.
“Funding will no longer go to organisations and services, but directly to the person.
“Organisations will provide services, then get paid … rather than getting a block of funding from the government.”
Autism Angels founder Despina Havelas said, with the NDIS now imminent, there is still no confirmation that metro access worker positions, which work through councils, will continue.
She said the council-based role had “been in limbo” for several years.
“It might be phased out, I’m not sure, but the role is really important,” she said.
“Their main role is to help those from birth to the age of 65, who have a disability.”
Department of Health and Human Services said funding would continue until Brimbank’s transition to the NDIS.
