National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a major reform, changing the way disability services are funded and delivered across Australia. The NDIS will deliver better outcomes for people with a disability, their families and carers by taking a fairer, more sustainable and equitable approach to supporting people with a disability.

When fully implemented, it will result in more services and greater control for more than 32,000 people with disability in South Australia.

The State Government is actively engaging with people with disabilities, their families and other consumers during the reform process. This reform work is being led by the Department for Human Services (DHS).

The NDIS is now available in South Australia. For more information, visit the NDIS South Australia website.

Local Area Coordination

There are local Partners in the Community to assist with the delivery of the NDIS, called Local Area Coordinators (LACs). For many people in the community LACs will be their main contact point for the NDIS.

LACs work with people with disabilities and their families to help them to understand and access the NDIS. LACs can assist people with a disability to access services via the NDIS or explore other services if not eligible.

In South Australia, the partners delivering LAC services are:

  • Feros Care - in the Barossa, Light & Lower North, and Northern Adelaide Service Areas.
  • Baptcare – in the Western Adelaide, Eastern Adelaide and, Yorke and Mid North Service Areas.
  • Mission Australia - in the Limestone Coast, Murray and Mallee, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, Southern Adelaide and, Eyre Western and Far North Service Areas.

Safeguards

Safeguards refer to a range of supports and mechanisms that ensure safety and wellbeing while supporting a person to have a good quality life, be an active and equal citizen, and to reach their potential. For more information visit the NDIS Safeguards webpage

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is a new independent Commonwealth body which will work to promote safety, quality services, prevent harm, resolve problems and identify areas for improvement. Participants can raise concerns or complaints about the safety and quality of NDIS services with the NDIS Commission. The NDIS Commission will also be responsible for the registration and regulation of NDIS providers across Australia.

For more information visit the NDIS Commission website.

What does this mean for SA Health?

SA Health currently plays a pivotal role in supporting people to access disability services, both as a provider of health and mental health services and by coordinating referrals to other disability services.

SA Health is committed to supporting clients to access services via the NDIS and its Partners in the Community.

SA Health will continue to provide emergency and routine health and mental health treatment to all South Australians, including those with a disability.

What if a client is not eligible for the NDIS?

The State Government and SA Health are committed to ensuring that people who are not eligible for NDIS will continue to receive appropriate services and supports.

If a client is not eligible for NDIS, they might be able to access supports via other mainstream departments. More information about options to build skills and capacity and link to these services can be found on the NDIS website.

Both the South Australian and Commonwealth Governments have committed to ensuring people with disability who are currently receiving services are not disadvantaged in the transition to the NDIS. This means that if they are currently receiving a disability service but are not eligible to become a participant in the NDIS, they will continue to receive support consistent with current arrangements. For more information about this, visit the NDIS website.

Useful links

Specific information about:

More information

For information and resources about the NDIS, visit the NDIS website.

For other enquiries, contact the NDIS by calling 1800 800 110 between 9.00 am and 11.00 pm Monday to Friday or via email: