NDIA Headquarters Opens in Geelong

The Prime Minister Tony Abbott has re-confirmed his commitment to the National Disability Insurance Scheme at the the opening of the National Disability Insurance Agency headquarters in Geelong.

Source: Twitter account of Mary Wooldridge

“The Government is fully committed to the successful rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and today is a significant milestone in its development,” Abbott said at the launch.

The refurbished office in Brougham Street, Geelong will be the interim national headquarters of the NDIA as it implements the Scheme.

The Prime Minister joined Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services Senator Mitch Fifield and Victorian Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge at the launch.

The NDIS is currently operating in four trial sites and working with more than 2,500 people with disability and their families to fund individualised support plans.

From 1 July trial sites will commence across the ACT, in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory and in the Perth Hills area of WA.

“The Agency’s move from Canberra to Geelong will provide an important economic boost to the local region and deliver new opportunities for the local workforce,” the Prime Minister said.

“The new headquarters will employ more than 100 further staff across a diverse range of fields, including allied health, finance, community engagement and administration.This is in addition to the 120 staff already employed by the Barwon NDIS trial site."

The Victorian Government also announced that $25 million will be allocated in the upcoming Victorian State Budget to support the establishment of the national NDIA office in the Barwon region.

“And around 450 jobs will be created by the combined national NDIA office and the Barwon NDIA office by the time the scheme is fully implemented  from July 2016,” Premier Napthine said.

The Victorian Coalition Government said it was the first major political party to back the NDIS, and on coming to Government committed to the scheme and lead its development and design at a national level.

The NDIA is the independent statutory agency of the Commonwealth Government, established in 2013, to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Its role includes holding the funds contributed by the Commonwealth, State and Territories in a single pool, managing scheme funds, administering access to the scheme and approving the payment of individual support packages.