Page 597 - Week 02 - Thursday, 18 February 2016
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packages with investment of just over $1 million from the commonwealth sector development fund. Twenty-nine organisations have been funded to strengthen their business systems and service responses to better meet the needs of the NDIS.
The ACT government continues to deliver on the memorandum of understanding it negotiated with the unions to support the implementation of the NDIS. At 31 December 2015, 161 permanent staff from Therapy ACT and Disability ACT have requested and accepted a voluntary redundancy. Disability ACT staff movement is expected to be influenced by the rate of household transition and the experience of other staff entering the non-government sector, which to date has been positive.
The Community Services Directorate is case managing the potential pool of staff interested in redeployment and will continue to collaborate across the ACT public service to implement a whole-of-government solution. Currently the Health Directorate is assisting in the assessment of allied health professionals for redeployment in conjunction with the Community Services Directorate and the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.
The ACT government is also investing in the capability of Disability ACT and Therapy ACT staff to support them to remain in the sector. At 31 December 2015 training support has been requested by 324 staff from Disability ACT and Therapy ACT. This training includes certificate III and IV as well as diploma and double diploma levels of study. The majority of training is provided by the Canberra Institute of Technology.
A small number of staff have returned to or commenced undergraduate study at university. In addition, health professionals have accessed tailored professional development relative to their profession, which includes clinical workshops and conferences. At 31 December 2015, 57 staff had attended the Lighthouse innovation centre mentoring and coaching program to explore opportunities for the establishment of a new business or private practice. Of those who attended, one new business has so far been registered with the NDIA and a further three are well advanced in their application for registration. Therapy ACT and Disability ACT staff are skilled and experienced, and we know that by supporting their career development we directly benefit the entire disability workforce.
This year will be exciting. All eligible NDIS participants will be in the scheme by midyear and we will have really progressed a long way in broadening the market to support participants to exercise choice and control. I am confident that we are continuing to learn about the opportunities arising from the NDIS. By working with individual people with disability, their families, staff and service providers, we are evolving the disability sector to provide the greatest opportunity for people with disability to live the life they want. I present the following paper:
National Disability Insurance Scheme—Implementation Report and Role of the ACT Government—Six monthly report—Ministerial statement, 18 February 2016.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
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