Joint Media Release: NDIS rollout gaining significant momentum

The latest quarterly data for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) released today shows that more than 32,000 new participants entered the NDIS in the March quarter – more than entered during the entire three year trial phase. 

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher, and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson, jointly released the COAG NDIS Quarterly Report for 1 January 2019 – 31 March 2019 2018 today.

“Almost 280,000 Australians with disability are now benefitting from the NDIS – with more than 85,000 of those receiving support for the very first time,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This represents growth of more than 900 per cent since the commencement of the transition phase on 1 July 2016.

“The number of plan reviews during the quarter was 51,924, and when combined with the 32,486 new plans approved, approximately 1,320 plans were developed or reviewed each business day during the quarter,” Mr Fletcher said.

Mr Fletcher said the report highlights the reason why the number of people in the NDIS is somewhat lower than was originally estimated.

“Back in 2012-13, there were estimates made for each state and territory of the number of people expected to transition across to the NDIS - based on the records held by each Commonwealth, state and territory disability program. 

“Across Australia, this was expected to be 290,000 people during the transition period from 1 July 2016. But to date only 200,000 people have been identified - largely because these records simply were not very good,” said Mr Fletcher.

Assistant Minister Henderson said it is encouraging to see the impact the NDIS was having on the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.

“Of the participants surveyed this quarter, 94 per cent felt their planner listened to them, 91 per cent considered that they had enough time to tell their story, and 92 per cent reported their planning meeting to have gone well,” Ms Henderson said.

“After two years in the NDIS, participants are also showing improved outcomes.

Reported improvements in participant outcomes include:

• Parents and carers of children starting school to aged 14 years thought their child was more independent as a result of the NDIS (65% in the second year, compared to 56% in their first year)
• Participants aged 15 to 24 years indicated that the NDIS had helped them with daily living activities (66% in their second year compared to 59% in their first year)
• Participants aged 25 years and over considered the NDIS helped them have more choice and more control over their lives (75% in the second year, compared with 68% in their first year).

Ms Henderson said the NDIS is now available across most of Australia, with 122 service delivery sites across the country, including 18 new sites opened in the past six months.

“There are now more than 10,000 people working on the NDIS across Australia, increasing from 2,300 in July 2016,” Ms Henderson said.

Mr Fletcher said the disability supports provider market continues to expand, with a six per cent growth on last quarter to a total of 20,208 providers across Australia as at 31 March 2019.

“Call centre performance has continued to improve, with the average answer speed consistently at 28 seconds,” Mr Fletcher said.

Participant satisfaction with the Scheme remains high with 88 per cent of participants rating their experience with NDIS as either ‘Very good’ or ‘Good’ – a 4 per cent increase on the December 2018 quarter.

The COAG NDIS Quarterly Report for 1 January 2019 to 31 March 2019 is available at www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/publications/quarterly-reports.