The Federal government has announced its intention to formally investigate the feasibility of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Speaking at the National Disability Awards the Prime Minister announced the Productivity Commission will conduct an inquiry into a national care and support scheme for people with a disability and their families.

Assisted by an expert panel, the Commission will examine the feasibility, cost and benefits of replacing the current disability service system with a new national no fault scheme providing long term essential care and support to people with a disability and their families.

The Productivity Commission is inviting the public to register their interest in the forthcoming inquiry, which will begin early this year and will report back to government in 2011.

More information will be available once the inquiry has commenced. Go to the Disability Care and Support page on the Productivity Commission's website to register your interest in the inquiry and you will be kept informed of progress. You can also indicate your interest in making a submission or discussing your submission at a public hearing.

While the timeframe for the inquiry seems long, there are complex issues which must be carefully considered and explored. It is important that the study takes the time to examine all the details fully and gets the answers right.

The timeframe will also allow for public consultation. This will be an important opportunity for people with a disability and their families to have input into the design and implementation of the scheme.

The NDIS campaign team – one of the driving forces behind the push to get the scheme operational – has said that while they welcome the government’s announcement, it does not mean that the work of their campaign is done:

“In fact quite the opposite – it is now more important than ever that politicians and the public understand why the scheme is so important.

“We must now create a desire to see the scheme introduced.

“All Australians need a no-fault insurance scheme for everyone who has, or acquires a significant disability.

“A National Disability Insurance Scheme would be a landmark social and economic reform, transforming the lives of Australians with disabilities and their families.”

The Productivity Commission will investigate the feasibility of new approaches, including a social insurance model, for funding and delivering long-term disability care and support for people with severe or profound disabilities – however they are acquired.

This will include detailed modeling and analysis to determine if a long-term disability care and support scheme would be appropriate, practical, economically responsible and whether it would fit with Australia's health, aged care, income support and injury insurance systems.

The Government has also announced the appointment of John Walsh as a part-time Associate Commissioner to the Productivity Commission inquiry. Mr Walsh was instrumental in the development of the Australian Registry of Spinal Cord Injury and is a board member of the NSW Motor Accidents Authority and the NSW Home Care Service.

The Government and the Productivity Commission will also be advised by an independent panel of seven people who bring considerable experience across the disability sector, including Chair of Yooralla Bruce Bonyhady, Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council Rhonda Galbally, and Australian Medical Association President Andrew Pesce.

To get up-to-date information visit the NDIS home page at
http://www.ndis.org.au