23 May 2019

Jacquie Petrusma

2019-20 Budget: Billion dollar investment into disability services

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is one of the biggest and most important reforms that Australia has ever seen, and the Hodgman Liberal Government is continuing to build on this transformation by investing even more to increase service and supports for people with disability.

We are determined to play our part, which is why we are investing more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions over the 2019-20 Budget and forward estimates to support people with disability.

Disability support services that remain outside of the scope of the NDIS including mainstream children’s therapy services, individual advocacy services and continuity of supports for people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS are also funded.

This substantial funding commitment demonstrates the Hodgman Liberal Government’s steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Tasmanians with disability.

In addition to the NDIS, the Government is providing:

• A massive boost to support for students with disability through an additional $34 million to support a new needs based funding model that will see up to a doubling of students able to access support;
• Additional funding of $1 million in 2019-20 to the Tasmanian Autism Diagnostic Services in order to assist in reducing the wait time for an autism assessment for children aged 0-18 years.  Earlier diagnostic assessments of autism will enable earlier transition to the NDIS for children, with families being able to access the services and funding they require to function day to day.

The Hodgman Liberal Government recognises the vital role of independent individual advocacy services and the critical role they provide in ensuring people with disability can access the same rights as others, which is why we are funding these services.

To further improve outcomes for children through access to early intervention and support, the Government is funding important mainstream children’s therapy services for children and young people who are ineligible for the NDIS and Early Childhood Interventions services

Funding is also committed towards ensuring continuity of supports for people with disability who are either not eligible for the NDIS, or who require supports that are outside of the scope of those funded under the NDIS.

Through our investments into the NDIS and our investments into disability support services that are outside of the NDIS, the Hodgman Liberal Government is working towards building a more inclusive, equitable and accessible state that empowers all Tasmanians.