LIFT RESOURCES FOR NDIS, SAYS MADELEINE KING

31 July 2018

The Turnbull Government must consider providing more resources for the National Disability Insurance Agency to facilitate the current switch to a national system in WA, says local federal MP Madeleine King.

She spoke after more than 100 people attended a valuable information session she hosted at the Gary Holland Community Centre.

Numerous people raised concerns during the session about the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme which began in July in Rockingham and starts in August in Kwinana.

Their wide-ranging concerns were responded to by a three-member team from NDIA – often with an apology and request for understanding as the national system rolls out. Afterwards, staff of the NDIA discussed individual issues one-on-one.

“I’m pleased that we were able to bring the NDIA staff to Rockingham to provide answers for our local residents,” Mr King said. “This was a valuable exercise and I am grateful to the   staff for providing information and taking questions.

“Clearly people are having trouble getting the information they want and the services they need for their loved ones.

“I have always strongly supported the establishment of the national scheme but it is as clear as crystal that there are problems with the change from a State to federal scheme as carers wrestle with new protocols and difficulties in accessing services.”

She said additional staff and funding resources should be considered by the Turnbull Government to cope with demand.  She hoped that plans for a Rockingham NDIS shopfront in 2019 could be brought forward.

Participants in the session were told that so far, 4092 people have joined the NDIS – 1804 for the first time.  It is expected that by 2020, 39,000 West Australians with a disability will join the NDIS.

The NDIS was established five years ago and was officially extended to WA on 1 July 2018.

"Since that time, the NDIS has changed people’s lives for the better with thousands of people accessing the services for the first time.”

Today’s information session was the third and biggest held so far in WA.

Ms King said the Turnbull Government should be focussing on providing additional resources for the NDIA rather than tax cuts for big business.