Kelly Vincent – 5RPH Interview on the NDIS Bilateral Agreement
12/12/2015
On Saturday, 12th December 2015 Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent was interviewed on radio station 5RPH to discuss the bilateral funding agreement between the State and Federal Government for the NDIS. Here is the audio and transcript from the interview.
PETER GRECO: Well, it seems like a positive press release coming out from the State and Federal Ministers for Disability. Let’s speak to Kelly Vincent who is the Member for Dignity for Disability in the Legislative Council. Kelly, good to catch up with you.
KELLY VINCENT: You too, Peter. How are things?
PETER GRECO: Pretty good. Now, should we be really excited, or should we be treating this announcement about the agreement between the State and Federal Government about the NDIS in South Australia with a little bit of caution?
KELLY VINCENT: Well, I don’t think it will surprise you, Peter, if I say that I think the reaction should be a little bit of both.
PETER GRECO: Okay. (Both laugh)
KELLY VINCENT: I think this is a really positive step forward. Particularly for the children and young people who have been missing out, even though they are technically eligible, because the number of children and young people who would be eligible to participate in the South Australian trial of the scheme was originally woefully underestimated. So originally, it was estimated that around 5000 children and young people will be eligible. Actually, the figure is around 10,000. So there’s been about half the participants saying “yes, you are able to participate, you able to have a registration number you are eligible, but we can’t yet get you onto a plan or even get you a meeting to talk about what you might like to have on your plan because we don’t have the resources to do that.” So this is a great step forward for those families and young people in particular, who have been stuck, really, in limbo waiting to be able to have a meeting to get a plan to get services and supports underway. So, particularly for those 5000 children and young people and their families, this is a win. But not only will it make a difference to those people who are waiting now, it will make a difference long into the future, because with this bilateral agreement announcement, we now know how the full roll-out of the NDIS will phase in over the years in South Australia as well…
PETER GRECO: Okay. Now, I think the State and Federal Government both kicked in an extra $50 million each?
KELLY VINCENT: That’s right. So a total of $100 million.
PETER GRECO: And is that what you are referring to in terms of resources for those 5000 or so youngsters that are eligible, but haven’t actually been able to be part of the scheme.
KELLY VINCENT: That’s right, they’re absolutely covered by that 100 million figure. So from the 1st of February next year, 2016 all eligible young people aged between zero and 14 years of age state-wide will be able to get onto an NDIS plan and that includes the 5000 who were not originally included in the estimated figure. And then from the 1st January 2017 we’ll move to 15 to 17 year olds state-wide, and then from the 1st July 2017 we’ll move onto adults so 18 to 64 year olds will be eligible. So 18 to 64 years olds will start being phased in from 1st July 2017. But that roll out, the adult roll out will be done by geographical area, so the first areas will be the Barossa, Light and lower north regions, and the local government areas of Playford, Salisbury and Port Adelaide Enfield. So it’s going to be a gradual roll out based on geographical area as we move into adults aged from 18 to 64 from the 1st July 2017. But from the 1st of February next year, so in just a couple of months’ time all 0 to 14 year olds will be covered. So it’s going to be state-wide for a little while yet, it won’t be until July 2017 until we start saving in the adult part of the trial which will be based on those geographical areas as I just mentioned.
PETER GRECO: That will, I guess all come together by 2019 when anyone in South Australia who qualifies will be able to be part of the scheme.
KELLY VINCENT: That is the plan, yes.
PETER GRECO: Which I guess is nearly four years away so I guess for some people it’s still a pretty big wait. How much campaigning and lobbying have you as a Member of Parliament been doing for this? You were rightly outspoken when the number of youngsters that were actually part of the scheme was way below than what were applying for it.
KELLY VINCENT: Yes absolutely we have been vocal on the need for more resources and funding to be available to get those, in particular those 5000 children and young people on to plans because ultimately it’s not their fault that the government messed up the maths and therefore didn’t have the support available to them, and you can imagine the amount of angst and stress that’s been causing to families.
PETER GRECO: Thanks for your time Kelly.
KELLY VINCENT: Thanks Peter.
