National Disability Insurance Scheme

The Victorian Government is taking a leading role in driving the establishment of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to ensure that eligible people with disability, their families and carers have the lifetime support they need.

A Secretariat has been established within DPC, drawing on the expertise of other Victorian government departments and agencies.

The Productivity Commission's final report on disability care and support was released on 10 August 2011. The Secretariat is responsible for supporting the Victorian Government in its response to the report. It will also assist the Victorian Government in playing a leading and influential role in the development and implementation of an NDIS through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

An NDIS would provide no-fault universal services and support to eligible people with disability. If adopted, an NDIS will cover many people who currently have no access to guaranteed lifetime care and support.

On 19 August 2011, disability care and support was discussed for the first time at a COAG meeting. COAG welcomed the public release of the Productivity Commission's final report on Disability Care and Support and agreed on the need for major reform of disability services in Australia through a National Disability Insurance Scheme. For more information regarding the outcomes of the COAG meeting on 19 August, visit the COAG website.

Other initiatives by the Victorian Government to influence the development of an NDIS include:

• recommending Victoria as a suitable location for the first stage of implementation of an NDIS
• inviting people with disabilities, their families and carers to advise on NDIS design and implementation issues
• ensuring NDIS is a COAG priority and
• establishing an NDIS Implementation Taskforce that consists of a range of experienced stakeholders whose expertise has informed and will continue to inform the views of the Victorian Government. See below for complete membership details.

Further information

View information about the Productivity Commission's inquiry into disability care and support and its final and draft reports at the Productivity Commission's website.

View the Premier's response to the Commission's final report into disability care and support.

Download the Victorian Government's response to the Commission's draft report into disability care and support (PDF 1.5 mb) or view as HTML.

For more information, please contact the NDIS Secretariat on 03 9651 1161 or ndis@dpc.vic.gov.au.

NDIS Implementation Taskforce membership

• Bryan Woodford OAM (Chair) Former CEO, Yooralla, and manager of other disability organisations; awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his services to people with disability.
• Richard Dent, CEO, EW Tipping Foundation and chairman of National Disability Services (Victoria); long involvement in the community services sector.
• Chris Fyffe, Psychologist, former academic and consultant on disability and other issues; former regional director of Community Services Victoria.
• Lesley Hall, CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.
• Robert Kerr, Honorary research fellow at the Brotherhood of St Laurence; former Head of Office at the Productivity Commission; former Commonwealth Treasury economist; former Commissioner with the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC).
• Rob Knowles AO, Chairman of the Mental Health Council of Australia; former Victorian Minister for Health, Housing and Aged Care.
• Simon McKeon, 2011 Australian of the Year; Executive Chairman of the Macquarie Group (Melbourne); CSIRO Chairman; founding Chairman of MS Research Australia; philanthropist.
• John Nairn, Director of the James Macready-Bryan Foundation; held senior positions in the funds management and life insurance industries.
• Fiona Smith, Barrister and former Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
• Jane Tracy, Education Director, Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria at Monash University and medical practitioner.
• Ron Wilson, Executive Director, Health Insurance Restricted Membership Association of Australia and former member of the Victorian Parliament.