DISABILITY groups in Brimbank have welcomed federal government funding for the launch of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The government last week committed $1 billion over four years to start the NDIS.
Under the scheme, people with significant and permanent disability will receive care and support over their lifetime, regardless of how they acquired their disability.
Despina Havelas, a committee member of Brimbank-based Autism Angels, said she was delighted with the funding, which was brought forward by 12 months.
The budget announcement follows rallies held in capital cities across the nation last month.
Ms Havelas said it was the first time the disability community had come together to achieve a positive outcome.
“It’s not just words this time as we have a commitment of money, which is fantastic,” Ms Havelas said.
“It’s a step forward, but it will take some time for the scheme to be worked on properly and the funding shows there’s a need for major reform.”
From mid-2013, select sites around Australia will begin serving people with a disability.
According to the government, the NDIS will serve 20,000 people by 2014.
People with a disability will be individually assessed and will work with a local co-ordinator to develop a support plan, taking into account their goals and needs.
Gorton MP Brendan O’Connor said the introduction of a disability scheme was vitally important to many local residents.
“I know that people with disability and their carers are being let down by the current system of care and support,” he said.
“It’s time for that to change. Getting this work done quickly is an essential step towards delivering the kind of care and support that is needed, and it’s what people with disability, their carers and families rightly expect of us.”
The government will begin negotiations with state and territory governments on the four locations where the NDIS will start.
The experience in the four launch sites will determine when and how the government rolls out a national scheme.
