The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has announced new measures to ensure essential support is in place for NDIS participants, workers and providers through the COVID-19 outbreak.
‘We have been consulting with NDIS, disability and health stakeholders to understand what actions we need to take to minimise the impact that COVID-19 may have on people with disability, their families, and the network of providers and workers that support them,’ said Mr Stuart Robert, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
‘We have a concerted and responsive plan of action to ensure that people with disability can continue to receive the support they need, and that providers have what they need to continue delivering their essential services in these extraordinary circumstances.
To allow NDIA staff to direct their focus on urgent changes to participant plans as a result of the impacts of COVID-19, we have allowed NDIS plans to be extended by up to 24 months, ensuring continuity of support.
Telephone meetings are being offered to all current and potential NDIS participants as a safer way to continue service delivery, including for new plans and plan reviews, during the current phase of the COVID 19 outbreak.
The NDIA will also take a flexible approach to amending plans and, where necessary, shift capacity building funding to funding for core supports, in consultation with special teams of planners in the NDIA.
Access to essential supports for NDIS participants is a priority in the COVID-19 response.
Importantly, the new measures work to identify and give extra support to those people with disability who have complex needs or run a higher risk of infection.
More information for NDIS providers and disability support workers is available on the NDIS website and the NDIS Commission website .
