National Disability Insurance Scheme

107 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (12 August 2014).

1. What work is the department doing to identify and prepare families who are transitioning over the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?

2. Are there any delays in the state/federal rollout of the NDIS and if so, what are the reasons?

3. What in-kind contributions will be included as part of the scheme and what block grant funding will be provided?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety): I have been advised:

1. South Australia is providing assistance to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) by enabling service providers to provide client data, including names and contact details, to the NDIA where required.

Service providers have indicated that they are contacting the parents of their young clients who are in the NDIS trial age cohort to assist them to prepare for their planning meetings with the NDIA and ensure they have the information about their current level of services and the NDIA support type that relates to the service.

The state government service provider, Disability Services, has put mechanisms in place to support clients' transition to the NDIS and to ensure there is both continuity of care and safe and effective transition arrangements in place. Parents are also advised by the NDIA and current service providers that they are able to have a support person, family member or advocate with them during their conversations with the NDIA.

2. No scheme delays have been agreed upon by governments. The state government expects the NDIA to focus on how best to establish a sustainable scheme over the long term in the timeframes agreed between South Australia and the commonwealth government.

3. The state government contribution of cash and in-kind support to the NDIS has been agreed as part of the bilateral agreement between South Australia and the commonwealth. The agreement estimates the following in-kind and cash contributions over the period of the NDIS trial, though the actual mix of in-kind/cash contributions may vary throughout the trial to reflect the level of in-kind services actually used by the NDIA:

Transition of existing programs from block grant funding, which contributes to the bilaterally agreed cash/in-kind mix, will be on a service provider basis. Current block grant funded providers of disability services will continue to receive state funding until they can access funds from the NDIS for clients who have transitioned. A gradual step down of block grants will occur as children transition to the scheme and funds are paid to providers by the NDIA.