The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a nation wide scheme in Australia which has changed the way people with disabilities get the supports and services they need to achieve their goals.
The NDIS was created to fulfil Australia’s obligations under United Nations convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability from 2007. These purpose of this convention “is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”
The first inkling of our National Disability Insurance Scheme was raised at the Australia 2020 summit a year later in 2008. Following this the productivity commission handed down its report in 2011 which found that persons with disability in Australia were underfunded and the disability system was not helping the people it had set out to help. After receiving the report, all state and territory governments agreed to the introduction of the NDIS, straight away successfully trialing in small areas when in March 2012 when the NDIS Act was passed. It took until July 2020 for the NDIS to be fully implemented.
The NDIS sets out to provide those with disability choice and control over their own lives, equal to others. The NDIS also sets out to improve the lives of participants by increasing their skills and independence over time, it is not a welfare system. The NDIS defines disability as:
For eligible participants, the NDIA implements this support through a NDIS plan, every single plan is unique to its owner! If you think you should have a plan but you’re unsure on how to get one, you can check out our other article here!
