More people with a disability will get the support they need with the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Inner and Outer Eastern Metropolitan regions

The scheme will see around 15,400 Victorians in Inner and Outer Eastern Melbourne access supports, including 2,100 people who will receive supports for the very first time.

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting people and organisations transition to the NDIS with a $20 million Transition Support Package for a range of practical and targeted readiness activities for people with disability and their families and carers, the disability workforce and service providers.

Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region, Shaun Leane today announced the Association for Children with Disability will receive funding as part of round two of the package, which will help people adapt to the new way the NDIS will work.

The Association for Children with Disability, will focus on three areas of priority, identified through experience with the nature of enquiries and gaps in information that currently exist:

• Enhanced NDIS Support – Delivering additional one-to-one telephone and face-to-face support for families encountering major challenges with their transition to and progress with the NDIS.
• Professional network capacity building – Working with professionals in key family-facing environments to build their knowledge of and skills in providing information to families around the NDIS.
• Plan to Action – Development and delivery of resources to assist families with plan implementation and preparation for plan reviews.

Support will be provided through online resources, workshops, information sessions, consultancy, resources and direct one-to-one support.

This is in addition to the Victorian Healthcare Association (VHA), Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC), Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV), Youth Disability Advocacy Service and VALID, amongst others which are not based in the East but will service this community

The NDIS is a national approach to providing individualised support and services to people with disability. It will mean better outcomes for people with disability who will have greater choice and control over the services and decisions affecting their lives.

The NDIS will be fully operational across Victoria by mid-2019 and will support more than 105,000 Victorians with a disability.

The scheme is being delivered through a funding partnership between the Commonwealth and Victorian governments.

By the time the NDIS is fully operational, Victoria’s investment will be $2.5 billion a year.

For more information go to www.vic.gov.au/ndis

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley

“We’re supporting people with a disability, providers and the workforce through the transition to the NDIS.”

 “People with a disability depend on the NDIS and have fought for an approach that puts their needs first.”

 “This is a time of change for Victorians with a disability, but also an exciting time when they will be able to plan and prepare for the future with much greater control over the types of services they can access.”

 Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region, Shaun Leane

 “The NDIS will help hundreds of local families in the east to get better disability support, and provide them with the services they need to live their lives to the fullest.”