The NSW Government has reversed an earlier decision to cut funding to disability advocacy services. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government will now provide up to $26 million for advocacy groups until 2020. The funding will support people with disability to access these services during the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and in the early stages of full scheme. More than 84,000 people with disability in NSW are currently accessing the NDIS.
A key focus of the funding will be on activities that support inclusion of people with disability in their communities. The premier said the government was committed to making the transition to the NDIS as smooth as possible. “We understand the transition has created concerns for people with disability and I want to assure the community we have been listening to those concerns.
“That is why we have set aside this funding. It will make sure people with disability can continue to access services and information, particularly in regional and rural communities.”