NDIS in full swing on North Coast

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is now in full swing right across the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions – from Noosa and Gympie to Strathpine and Caboolture.

The region’s disability service providers have come together at a Roundtable hosted by the Palaszczuk Government today (11 March) to hear the latest updates on the NDIS transition and share their experiences with the scheme

Minister for Disability Services Coralee O’Rourke said that she is pleased with the progress of the transition and thanked local providers for their support and preparation.

“Thousands of local people with disability have already successfully applied to join the scheme, including hundreds of people who have never before received disability services,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“I am incredibly pleased that so many Queenslanders with disability in the area are taking up the opportunity to access the scheme. It is changing lives.

“Not only do we want all eligible people with disability to be able to access the support they need over their lifetime, we also want to ensure the disability sector continues to grow and develop, creating even more diversity and innovation in the market place.”

“That’s why it is so important for me to hear from service providers directly.”

Mrs O’Rourke said service providers had been very responsive to the needs of participants in the scheme and she was pleased the NDIS Partners in the Community, Carers Queensland, had also hit the ground running in supporting local people with disability.

“The NDIS Partners in the Community are locally based on Plaza Parade in Maroochydore and The Corso at North Lakes and are currently working with people with disability to prepare NDIS support plans, answer questions and connect people with the scheme,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

Carers Queensland’s CEO, Debra Cottrell, said people could think of Carers Queensland as the gateway to the NDIS for people with disabilities and their families on the North Coast.

“The LAC program has two main responsibilities,” Ms Cottrell said.

“Firstly, working with and supporting people with disabilities and their families to undertake individual planning conversations for their NDIS plans and help to bring those plans to life.

“Secondly, to work with the whole of Australian society to make it more inclusive of people with disability.”

Carers Queensland is hosting a number of community events in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions in coming months, providing information about the NDIS and the access process, as well as helping people prepare for their first planning conversation.

/Public Release. View in full here.