Federal member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon has welcomed the news Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has signed agreements with New South Wales and Victoria to proceed with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
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Mr Fitzgibbon says the announcement is cause for celebration as it means the NDIS is coming to the Hunter in 2016.
“It is a huge breakthrough for people with disability in the Hunter electorate. Now they have the certainty of knowing when they’ll be able to access services as part of the NDIS,” he says.
“Finally, people with disability will have their needs met in a way that supports them to live with choice and dignity.”
“Labor created the NDIS so we know what this means for people with disability. We know that the current system of disability support is broken and needs to be fixed. We know how the NDIS will transform lives.”
“Already, more than 17,000 people with disability across Australia and I look forward to seeing it continue to change the lives of people with disability in Hunter.”
People with disability, their carers and families in Cessnock, Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter Shire Local Government Areas will benefit from the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from June 2016.
The NDIS will become available for residents in the Mid-Western Region from July 2017.
Maitland has had access to the NDIS since 2013 as they formed part of the trail site in NSW.
According to the NDIS website it will support people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.
It will also give them more choice and control over how, when and where your supports are provided, and certainty they will receive the support needed over their lifetime.
To check eligibility for the NDIS visit: www.ndis.gov.au/ndis-access-checklist.
