Children with disabilities in the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Penrith will be able to start using National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services from July 1.
The planned 12-month early NDIS roll-out for children with a disability was confirmed last Tuesday, with a memorandum of understanding signed between the state and federal governments in Penrith.
“This announcement is great news for families in the Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains who will get the support they need to help meet the needs of their children and support them to achieve their goals and aspirations,” Macquarie MP Louise Markus said.
Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield said the agreement signalled both governments’ commitment to deliver the NDIS in full.
‘‘This agreement will deliver the NDIS to about 2000 children with disability and their families in [Penrith, the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains],” he said.
The federal government has allocated $14.7million in 2015-16 for western Sydney roll-out and the state government another $8.7million.
NSW Minister for Disability Services, John Ajaka said families could sign up from July 1 and through an individualised plan process expect to receive funding to choose services by September 1.
He said 2000 place indication is not a cap on places in the program, but an approximation of how many people under 18 in the region need the NDIS.
A government body, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) would open a Penrith office first and then across the region.
‘‘The planning and assessment process is undertaken by the NDIA,’’ Mr Ajaka said.
Once a plan is established and funding provided, Mr Ajaka said families would then be able to choose the services they wanted to meet their needs.
He said the NDIS roll-out would see a transition to more services being provided by the non-government sector.