This agreement means a state-run, nationally consistent NDIS is now a firm reality and gives people with disability and the disability services sector certainty about how and when the NDIS will be implemented in WA.

Over the next few years, an estimated 39,000 West Australians with disability will access vital services and supports through the NDIS, giving them increased choice and control over their lives. The agreement reaffirms the WA and Commonwealth governments shared commitment to:

• Nationally consistent eligibility;
• Core principles such as access to reasonable and necessary supports, choice and control and a guarantee of full portability; and
• The NDIS in WA being part of a national quality and safeguarding framework, including the same appeals avenues as in all other states and territories.

Geographical Roll Out

Commencing on 1 July 2017, the NDIS will be available to all eligible West Australians in the following areas:

• 1 July 2017: The Kimberly-Pilbara, the remaining South Metro region and the Perth Hills;
• 1 July 2018: Goldfields Esperance, North Metro and the remaining Wheatbelt, South West and Central South Metro; and
• 1 July 2019: Midwest Gascoyne, Great Southern, Central North Metro and South East Metro.

It is understood there will be no change for people who are already participating in the WA NDIS in the Lower South West, Cockburn-Kwinana and Ranges. For those people who are part of the NDIA-run trial, transition will commence to the WA NDIS from 1 July 2017. The West Australian Government has indicated it will be working closely with people with disability, the Commonwealth and the NDIA to ensure that the services and supports of people in this trial site are not disrupted during the transition.

Governance

The NDIS in WA will be delivered by a new WA Government authority and governed by a seven member board. An Independent Advisory Committee will also be established to provide advice to the board. In addition, state legislation will be developed which will mirror key provisions of the Commonwealth NDIS Act, such as access and eligibility, reasonable and necessary support, choice and control and the quality and safeguarding framework.

Note that the evaluation reports of the NDIS and WA NDIS trialled in WA are yet to be released. This should occur to help inform the detail of scheme implementation.

Financial arrangements

The agreement details the financial arrangements totalling $3.4B, comprising $2B from the WA Government and $1.4B from the Commonwealth.

Nationally, the NDIS is funded between governments on the basis of people in the scheme and individual package costs. This is the same for WA, where the State will contribute 59.4% of package costs and the Commonwealth will contribute the remaining 40.6%.

The state and Commonwealth will equally share the cost of all non-package related costs for Information, Linkages and Capacity Building and Local Coordination. This funding is separate from the funding for package costs.

WA will fund 100% of the administration and operating costs of the authority responsible for delivering the WA NDIS and for the board and Independent Advisory Council.

Risk sharing arrangements 

The State and Commonwealth agreed that the management of risk and unexpected costs is a vital part of ensuring the NDIS in WA is sustainable. The Commonwealth will fund a maximum of 25% of the risk of any increase in costs associated with higher than expected participant numbers or higher package costs, with WA funding the remaining risk.

This contrasts with the arrangements in other states where the Commonwealth has accepted 100% of the financial risk during scheme transition and no less than 75% of the risk for full scheme.

Quality and safeguarding

Existing WA quality and safeguarding arrangements will apply during the transition until the national NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework is implemented.

People in the WA NDIS will also have access to a nationally consistent complaints and appeals process, including the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Additional Information

Read the media release on the agreement here.