Adults started entering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in South Australia from Saturday 1 July 2017.

Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo said the NDIS is the biggest social reform since Medicare, introducing a new way of providing disability services that gives people living with a disability more choice about the support they receive.

Children up to age 14 started entering the NDIS under a trial in South Australia in 2013, followed by young people aged 15 to 17 in January this year.

Mr Piccolo said between July 2017 and April 2018, adults living with a disability around the State will start joining the scheme, based on their geographic area. Northern Adelaide, the Barossa, Light and Lower North are the first regions to enter the full scheme.

“South Australia was one of the first states to sign up to the NDIS and, at full rollout, the StateGovernment will be investing $723 million annually into the scheme,” Mr Piccolo said.

“More than 32,000 South Australians will receive services under the full scheme – increased froMaround 17,000 pre-NDIS,” he said.

Jobs in the South Australian disability sector are expected to double from about 6000 to about 12,000.

Mr Piccolo said while the Commonwealth is responsible for the rollout of the NDIS through the National Disability Insurance Agency, the South Australian Government is deeply invested in the scheme.

“We’ll be working to ensure that South Australians living with a disability have the smoothest possible transition to the scheme,” Mr Piccolo said.

“The South Australian Government is supporting a range of skills and training programs to preparepeople for a broad variety of roles.

“Feros Care are partnering with the NDIS to provide Local Area Coordination (LAC) to help more people live healthy, fulfilling and connected lives,” he said.

As an NDIS LAC Partner in the Community, Feros Care will help people make the most out of the scheme by finding out what is important and helping source the right support services.

Local Feros Care Manager , Ms Lea Spavens said they know one-size-does-not-fit all so support services will be tailored to help to meet the goals of each individual, whether they want to become more involved in the community through sports clubs or local theatre, live more independently or improve their health and wellbeing.

“At Feros Care what we care most about is helping people live bolder lives,” said Ms Spavens

“Healthier. Better connected. More active. More fulfilling.”

“We call it growing bold and for over 25 years, we’ve been making it real, both for older Australians and those living with disability” she said.

Enquiries regarding the services provided by Feros Care can be made by phone at 1300 986 970, or via email at lacinfo@feroscare.com.au or going online at https://www.feroscare.com.au/ndis-local-area-coordination