Geelong an NDIS leader for service

AS a trial region for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Geelong and its surrounds have lived with the support service reform for almost six years.

More than 7000 participants from the Barwon region are registered with the system, which is a world-first overhaul and the biggest of its kind in Australia since the introduction of Medicare in the 1970s.

Nationally, there are more than 250,000 NDIS participants, including about 78,000 people who are receiving disability-related supports for the first time.

The first stage of the NDIS in Victoria began in the Barwon region on July 1, 2013.

This year, all eligible Victorians can access the scheme.

“The NDIS recognises that everyone’s needs and goals are different,” an NDIS spokesman said.

“Working with a planner, participants talk through their daily routines and describe what’s important to them, and develop an individually tailored plan.

“Participants receive funding for the reasonable and necessary disability-related supports likely to assist them to live an independent life and participate in their community.”

These supports include personal care, access to the community, therapy services and essential equipment.

Geelong residents have a number of these services available and many have already benefited from local, tailored services and initiatives.

The governing authority also estimates at peak operation, or “full scheme”, the reform will have created more than 2000 jobs in the Barwon region, and 90,000 across Australia.

A range of improvements have been announced over the past months. The new NDIS pathways program has been developed after consultation with participants, their families and carers about their experience with the system.

Face-to-face planning meetings, single points of contact and accessible plans are among the developments in the pathways program.

“These improvements are designed so that participants better understand their plans before approval and can start accessing supports quickly and easily,” the spokesman said. For more information call 1800 800 110 or visit ndis.gov.au