Program funding a big win for NQ

MINISTER for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Stuart Robert will today announce a service expansion after committing $20 million to the program last year.

The expansion of the National Community Connector Program builds upon the existing community connectors in remote settings and will ensure it better supports Australians with disability in rural and urban locations from four specific population groups.

The groups are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people experiencing psychosocial disabilities and ageing parents or carers of people with disability.

Mr Robert will make the announcement in Townsville alongside Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson and Townsville NDIS partner in the community Feros Care.

“Community Connectors will play a critical role in reaching out to people with disability in these harder-to-reach communities, increasing awareness of the NDIS and providing support for people to access the scheme,” Mr Robert said.

“We made a promise to deliver this program nationally, and as of today, we are now delivering the expanded National Community Connector program in urban and regional locations across Australia.

“These organisations have been selected to deliver the Community Connector program because of their bonds across these communities.”

The organisations selected to deliver the NCCP in partnership with NDIS Partners in the Community are the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, National Ethnic Disability Alliance, Mental Health Australia and First Peoples Disability Network.