NDIS community update for Townsville

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will host two community information sessions in Townsville on Friday 8 May to help people prepare for the roll out of the NDIS in Queensland.

The NDIS will start in Queensland from 1 July 2016. About 97,000 Queenslanders with disability will be supported by the Scheme once it is fully rolled out.

Bruce Bonyhady, Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency Board, Queensland NDIA staff and guest speakers will provide an overview of the NDIS, as well as tips on how people can start to prepare for it.

Mr Bonyhady said people with disability, their families, carers, service providers and community leaders are encouraged to attend to learn about the NDIS.

“These community updates are our first in North Queensland and we are looking forward to meeting with people in Townsville to discuss how they can prepare for the NDIS ahead of full scheme rollout,” he said.

“The NDIS is a new way of delivering disability support. The NDIS takes a flexible, whole-of-life approach working with eligible participants, their families and carers, to develop individualised plans. The NDIS provides participants with more choice and control over how, when and where their supports are provided. It also provides certainty that they will receive the support they need over their lifetime.”

There are currently seven NDIS trial sites, in the ACT, the Barkly region in the Northern Territory, Perth Hills in Western Australia, the Hunter region in New South Wales, South Australia (for children aged 13 years and under), Tasmania (for young people aged 15 to 24) and in the Barwon region in Victoria.

Mr Bonyhady said a solid foundation is being built for the NDIS so far, with more than 11,000 participants with individualised support plans and $565.3million committed to people with disability to fund the services and equipment that enable them to live more independent lives.

Date: 8 May 2015

Time: 11am to 12.30pm and 5pm to 6.30pm

Address: Ryan Community Centre, 46 Morindo Drive, Kirwan, Queensland

Light refreshments available and children are welcome.