Why is it important for physicians to understand the NDIS?
The NDIS is a new way of providing disability services across Australia to people with significant and permanent disability that substantially impacts their day to day functional abilities. Many people living with disability who will be eligible for the scheme will for the first time receive disability services and supports designed to improve their quality of life. The full implementation of the NDIS will occur over a three year transition between July 2016 and June 2019. During this period approximately 460,000 Australians with significant and permanent disability will become eligible to receive supports and services in relation to their disability.
The implementation of the NDIS across Australia will change the disability interface with existing sectors including health, housing, education, criminal justice and others and with the wider community. This NDIS Guide seeks to support RACP Members to understand how the NDIS will affect their patients; what roles physicians can take up to support their patients to ensure their support needs are met by the new scheme; and what existing and new disability / health interfaces need to be built to ensure the needs of people with disability are met by the multiple social systems.