The National Disability Insurance Scheme: A Quick Guide

Legislated in 2013 and expected to be fully operational by 2020, the NDIS is the Australian government’s response to the needs of people with disabilities. National Disability Insurance Scheme is administered by the agency of the same name and it is entirely public-funded.
People under 65 years of age who have a permanent and significant disability receive the support that is directed at them as individuals; not through institutions like the case was before. The main benefit of the Scheme is that disabled Australians can now enjoy relative financial security and stability. Since NDIS is not an integral part of the universal healthcare system, there a few points potential users, their families, and ideally all Australians ought to know.

Getting family members involved

Like we’ve stated in the introduction, Australians were dependent on various institutions for disability insurance for decades. The NDIS promises a quicker and easier way to access support and service by allowing the families of disabled people to have direct access to the scheme.
After all, they are the ones who know the needs of their family members the best and will use the funds in the most appropriate manner possible. As a result, users of the disability insurance scheme will be relieved of all the physical, financial, and emotional stress associated with the fulfillment of their rights.

The nation as a whole

So far, states and even municipalities ran their own disability insurance schemes which meant that some people had access to several insurance funds, while others had access to none. Furthermore, many territories had a disability insurance scheme but they were defined and put into practice in such a way that many people were left in the dry. In 2020, this will change as every Australian citizen regardless of the place of residence will be eligible to become a part of the scheme. From now on, no individual will fall through the system as it was often the case in the past.

People’s choice

One of the key benefits that give greater freedom to people with disabilities is the ability to choose the program they find best suitable for their needs. What was once the responsibility of clerks who didn’t know the individual needs of every disabled person is now left for users and their families to decide. This will help the recipient participate in the social, economic, and cultural life of their community better. In the end, their inclusion will improve the living conditions in the entire nation through local initiatives that help the disabled.

A scheme based on equality

The old insurance system had discrepancies regarding the circumstances and the timing of the acquirement of the disability. Namely, legal support was not equal for those people who were born with a disability or became disabled at some point during their lifetime. The NDIS will help bring equality into social security by granting equal access to existing services to all physically impaired people.

Catering to individual needs

Thus far, users were often nothing more than numbers to people who were supposed to help them institutionally. NDIS includes plants that are tailored to meet the individual needs of people, as they are heavily person-centered. Like we’ve stated earlier, the scheme caters to individuals by allowing people with disability and their families to make decisions for themselves.
The Agency is there to provide the funds for the supports but it is the recipient’s choice of how these funds will get used. In sense, Australia is one of the few countries in the world that can say it has a social care system that caters to individual needs rather than masking the problem with inapplicable legislation.

Regular and transparent care

Like most legislative regarding social care, the new NDIS is transparent as much as possible. Getting NDIS information is easier than ever so both people with disability and prospective employers can access it. The latter can count on support for their business from various approved auditing bodies and consultants.
Furthermore, transparency means that users will have access to their respective histories where they can see in which way the government supported them. This feature comes with the additional benefit or regularity, which means all the support, equipment, and therapy will be provided on a regular basis. As a result, people with disabilities will start feeling more secure and they could plant their future better.
Fiscal responsibility
Ever since it was first drafted in the early 2010s, the NDIS was fiscally responsible. Dubbed by many as yet another dubious welfare experiment, it actually resembles more of an investment agency. The object of this investment are people who haven’t had a fair chance to fight for their rightful place in society.
With help from NDIS, disabled people can finally start their own business and become entrepreneurs, equal to their peers in terms of market conditions. Even if they aren’t particularly motivated, people with a disability still get a chance to find work, thus ceasing to be a burden for their families. Economic empowerment lies at the very heart of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Benefits for people with a disability
Although the NDIS is specifically tailored for people with some of a disability, all Australians will actually benefit from it. Namely, disability doesn’t only hit the person who suffers from it but the lives of tens of other people are affected. Unfortunately, every person can become disabled at any point in time so this legislation is in the best interest of all of us. Finally, society as a whole will benefit from the NDIS because it promises to create a more inclusive and more diverse society, which are true Australian ideals.
All in all, the NDIS is an ambitious project by the Australian government that is yet to show its full potential. Its initial phases of application have produced impressive results as more and more people across the continent are entering the disability insurance system. What is more, they alone don’t stand to gain the most, as society as a whole is the real winner here.