LOCAL ORGANISATION TO HELP AUSTRALIA GET READY FOR NDIS

12 July 2012

integratedliving Australia Ltd at Muswellbrook will receive $ 230,373 in funding from the Federal Government to help Australias disability care and support system get ready for the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon, today announced that integratedliving will receive the funding as part of the Federal Governments $10 million Practical Design Fund, which identifies and supports innovative projects that will help people with disability, their families and carers and the disability sector transition to an NDIS.

A National Disability Insurance Scheme will fundamentally change the way we deliver care and support for people with disability in the Hunter electorate and across the country, Mr Fitzgibbon said.

An essential part of getting this change right is developing practical, real-world ways to make sure an NDIS can work how its supposed to for people with disability. That is exactly what the team at integratedliving will help us do.

integratedliving will receive funding to develop a "How To" guide for small to medium organisations to help them adjust to an NDIS environment and they will also work with Indigenous people with disability and Indigenous disability support staff to develop culturally specific carers groups and leisure activities.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will start from the middle of next year, delivering individualised care and support for thousands of people with disability, their families and carers in five locations around the country.

Were investing $1 billion for the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and were working to introduce the first stage of the scheme.

With the start National Disability Insurance Scheme just around the corner, its really important that were doing all we can to help our disability sector identify the very best ways of supporting people with disability.

To be chosen to deliver this national project is a fantastic achievement and it shows us that some of the best work being delivered by Australias disability sector is happening right here in the Hunter electorate.

The work that integratedliving is doing with the support of the Federal Government will help make sure the National Disability Insurance Scheme becomes a reality for people with disability, their families and carers.