PEOPLE have nothing to fear from the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a man with 24 years of industry experience has said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Barry Murphy, the chief executive officer of Challenge Community Services, was at Dubbo this week to present an information session on changes flowing from one of the largest social policy reforms in Australia's history.
Mr Murphy said the NDIS was about focusing on individual needs and choices to help people with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities to live the lives they wanted.
"The disability industry is being turned upside down," he said.
"But that's a good thing. From what I have seen, the NDIS is like winning the lottery. It is helping people with disabilities to achieve goals and participate in social and economic life."
Mr Murphy said Challenge had gained more than 12 months' experience operating three NDIS trial sites in the Hunter Valley.
To date, 40 participants and their families had successfully transitioned to the new scheme.
"We have seen many positive outcomes for participants," Mr Murphy said
"But it is also clear that more education is needed about what the NDIS will offer and how it will benefit lives."
Mr Murphy said Challenge was a Tamworth-based organisation owned and run by parents with the sole purpose of providing services for the physically and mentally disabled.
Across 58 years it had expanded to 42 locations in NSW. At Dubbo Challenge offered day programs, respite and out-of-home care services.
Mr Murphy said information sessions on the NDIS had helped to ease community concerns.
"It is understandable that some people are fearful of change," he said.
"At the end of our sessions people say they feel reassured and excited about the opportunities to come when the NDIS rollout starts nationally from July 1 next year.
"It will not begin in western or far western NSW until 2017.
"People who are currently funded for disability programs will be eligible for the NDIS. People not currently funded will need to provide evidence of their disability.
"Once eligibility is established participants and their families or support people will sit down with a planner who works for the NDIS agency. Plans will be made and costed for what the individual requires and wants.
"Participants and their families will be able to shop around different service providers to see what is being offered.
"For the uninitiated it might sound confusing but the process is actually quite simple. Support from specialist planners will be available right through the process.
"The NDIS will offer a whole-of-life approach to working with participants and their families and carers.
"It will involve a massive boost in funding. In Australia $11 billion is currently spent on disability funding. After the roll-out the funding will increase to $23 billion nationally. In NSW it will go from $1 billion to more than $5 billion.
"Currently there is an awful lot of unmet needs in disability services. Under the NDIS a lot more people will be eligible for support.
"It is highly likely the NDIS agency will have a shopfront in Dubbo offering special planners in the areas of physical, intellectual and mental health disability.
"The NDIS will attract a lot more service providers to regional areas. Choice will be available and I would advise everyone, including Challenge clients, to shop around to ensure needs are best met."