FW: NDS News Update - NDIS timetable brought forward

21 October 2011

NDIS timetable brought forward The first meeting of the COAG Select Council on Disability Reform, chaired by Federal Ministers Wayne Swan and Jenny Macklin, has agreed to bring forward by a year the implementation timetable for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This means that the 'launch sites', envisaged by the Productivity Commission as commencing in mid-2014, are now planned to commence in mid-2013. The launch sites have yet to be identified. The Select Council, which consists of State, Territory and Commonwealth Treasurers and Disability Ministers, also agreed on the foundation reforms necessary to establish the NDIS. These include increased disability sector capacity; a significantly enlarged workforce with appropriate skills; national quality standards; and a suite of common assessment tools. Earlier this week, the newly-formed NDIS Advisory Group met to develop advice for the COAG Select Council on a work plan in relation to the proposed foundation reforms. The Advisory Group will consider forming expert groups on issues relating to the foundation reforms - some of which, such as assessment tools, will require considerable technical knowledge. A Senior Officials Working Group, chaired by high-level officials from Federal Treasury and FaHCSIA, has also formed to support the COAG Select Council.  The more ambitious implementation timetable is a welcome development, given the urgent need for disability services. But a concerted and coordinated effort will be required on many fronts to meet the timetable. The reform program commenced under the National Disability Agreement means that preparatory work is already under way, but it will have to accelerate and expand very significantly. NDS is developing a paper on equipping disability service providers for the NDIS. It will outline the implications of the NDIS (and associated reforms) for disability service providers, identify pressure points, document current resources and projects available to assist service providers and recommend actions to bridge the gap between what is available and what is needed.