The Australian Government is providing $5.9 million over the next two years to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to strengthen NDIS services within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Minister for the NDIS Stuart Robert says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability will see improved access to disability services as a result of this $5.9 million investment.
NACCHO is being funded to work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) to increase registrations to deliver NDIS services.
This will help build capacity for these organisations to transition to and operate as NDIS providers and, in turn, grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NDIS market and workforce.
NACCHO Chair, Donnella Mills says the investment would help make NDIS services more accessible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability increasing their choice and control.
“Through our ACCHOs we will leverage our relationships within local communities to improve access to culturally appropriate support under the NDIS for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability living in urban, regional and remote communities,” she says.
“One of the 16 targets outlined in the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap is that ‘everyone enjoys long and healthy lives’. This project will help NACCHO increase community awareness within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the NDIS and the life-changing support it can provide.”
Minister Robert says the Australian Government is committed to delivering an NDIS that is ready to support the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants now and long into the future.
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