A new trial site in regional Western Australia is set to provide a foundation for the future commissioning of services delivered under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and improve access to supports for people in rural, remote and First Nations communities.
Katanning and neighbouring communities in Western Australia have been selected as the second trial site for the Alternative Approaches to Commissioning for Remote and First Nations Communities initiative.
The program aims to create close, effective partnerships with communities to trial alternative, place-based approaches to commissioning NDIS services, helping to address service gaps and improve access to NDIS supports.
Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten said the trial would be instrumental in finding community-driven solutions to thin markets.
“All Australians with disability deserve to have access to the NDIS supports they need to participate fully in the community, regardless of where they live,” Minister Shorten said.
“Findings from the Independent Review of the NDIS reinforced the importance of fostering strong partnerships with rural, remote and First Nations communities to trial new solutions to market gaps that are grounded in participant and community needs.
“This goes to the heart of our Government’s commitment to working with the disability community to trial reforms.”
Western Australian Minister for Disability Services Don Punch said the trial would help to bridge the current gap between demand and access to NDIS services in rural and remote communities in Western Australia.
“We are eager to see these solutions developed in Katanning which currently has few providers and very limited access to services, including culturally appropriate and culturally and linguistically diverse supports,” Minister Punch said.
“The Alternative Commissioning trial will work with participants and communities to explore new approaches to long-standing market challenges to ensure people in remote communities have better access to the support they need, when and where they need it.”
The Maningrida region of the Northern Territory was announced as the first site for the Alternative Commissioning trial.
Alternative commissioning will be undertaken in partnership with First Nations and remote communities to ensure the trial is both culturally appropriate and underpinned by an understanding of community strengths and preferences.