News | 2 December 2016

BREAKING: WA update

Tags: , ,

BREAKING: WA update

A decision has finally been reached about the future of the NDIS in Western Australia, paving the way for a statewide rollout of a WA-managed NDIS from 1 July next year.

In an announcement in Perth today, WA and the Commonwealth Governments have agreed that WA will control its own NDIS.

It means that people with disability will participate in the NDIS, but the WA administer the scheme from Perth, rather than from Geelong in Victoria like every other state and territory.

In reaching an agreement the WA Government has agreed to 11 conditions stipulated by the Commonwealth.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter told the ABC the conditions include “national consistency for key elements such as eligibility and access, the WA Government funding 100 per cent of the administration and operating costs, and clear sharing of governance responsibilities.”

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the Commonwealth would prefer a nationally consistent system but he was relieved an agreement had been reached.

“While it remains the Commonwealth’s strong preference for WA to join the NDIS on a similar basis to other states and territories, I acknowledge WA’s firm commitment to a WA delivered model that builds on WA’s existing disability service system,” Mr Porter said.

WA Disability Services Minister Donna Faragher said the WA Government remained firmly committed to the NDIS and a nationally consistent scheme.

“The WA Government … is clear that eligibility criteria, the provision of reasonable and necessary supports and, most importantly, choice and control for people with disability in WA will be the same as in all other states – facilitating a fully portable national system,” Ms Faragher said.

An estimated 40,000 Western Australians with disability will become NDIS participants once it is fully rolled out.

WA’s Disability Services Commission says the NDIS in Western Australia will be completely nationally consistent with key Scheme rules and core NDIS principles.

“This means that the eligibility criteria, the provision of reasonable and necessary supports and, most importantly, choice and control for people with disability in WA will be the same as in all other states – facilitating a fully portable national system,’ its updated website says.

More to come…

Join the conversation