Page 1019 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2015
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The government is working with the National Disability Insurance Agency to ensure that the information, linkage and capacity building services in the ACT build on the existing service infrastructure to deliver comprehensive, flexible responses that are embedded in the community. The NDIA expects to provide jurisdictions with feedback on the information, linkage and capacity building consultations across Australia at the April Disability Reform Council meeting.
In 2013-14, 25 providers were independently reviewed to assist in their preparation for the NDIS. As part of these reviews, RSM Bird Cameron developed a “health check” that identified organisational areas requiring further development in preparation for the NDIS. The health check found that 90 per cent of organisations appeared to be in a sound condition to adapt practices required for NDIS.
RSM Bird Cameron put forward some recommendations to 19 of those organisations and Disability ACT is supporting them to implement those recommendations. Last year, the government rolled forward service funding agreements with over 60 organisations. Through a collaborative approach, the contracts were renegotiated with the view to support organisations through this transition. The agreements were designed with a financial step down as more people phase into the NDIS. For some organisations the payment timetable was also adjusted to allow them to manage their cash flow issues.
To further support the sector, the ACT government has established a block funded transition working group. This working group was established in response to delays for people with a disability phasing into the NDIS and will develop a transparent and responsive process to further assist organisations that are experiencing short-term cash issues.
The government remain committed to the local disability sector and will continue to support the organisations as they transition to the NDIS. Madam Speaker, we have a track record of working with, supporting and valuing the disability sector. As we transition over the two-year period to the NDIS, it will be critical that we continue that support and valuing of such fine organisations here in the ACT.
I present the following paper:
ACT Government supporting a strong local disability sector—Ministerial statement, 24 March 2015.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
University of Canberra Amendment Bill 2015
Debate resumed from 19 February 2015, on motion by Mr Barr:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
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