Continuing a strong commitment to people with disability
The National Disability Agreement between the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments will improve and increase services for people with disability, their families and carers.
The agreement reflects a strong commitment from both levels of government to provide more opportunities for people with disability to participate in and enjoy Australia's economic and social life.
The new agreement is designed specifically to assist people with disability to live as independently as possible, by helping them to establish stable and sustainable living arrangements, increasing their choices, and improving their health and wellbeing. At the same time, the agreement focuses on supporting families and carers in their caring roles.
The Parties have agreed to concentrate initial national efforts in several identified priority areas to underpin the policy directions and achieve reforms in the disability service system. They are:
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Better Measurement of Need – Under this priority: a national model to estimate demand will be developed by mid 2010; there will be improvements in the data collected through the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), which will provide a stronger basis for demand estimates; and improvements in the quality of data reported under the National Minimum Data Set, and jurisdiction-level unmet demand data.
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Population Benchmarking for Disability Services – A National Population Benchmarking Framework will be developed and initial population benchmarking of disability services, based on information available, will be achieved by mid 2010 and improve the evidence base to assist in policy, service and planning decisions.
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Making Older Carers a Priority – The National Disability Priorities Framework will assist Governments to target services to more vulnerable population groups based on relative need (including older carers and Indigenous people with disability).
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Quality Improvement Systems based on Disability Standards – A National Disability Quality Framework with a National Quality Assurance system for disability services will be developed to introduce a national approach to quality assurance and the continuous improvement of disability services by mid 2010.
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Service Planning and Strategies to Simplify Access – The National Framework for Service Planning and Access will be developed, focussing on providing a person centred approach to service delivery and to simplify access to specialist disability services.
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Early Intervention and Prevention, Lifelong Planning and Increasing Independence and Social Participation Strategies – An Early Intervention and Prevention Framework will be developed to increase Governments’ ability to be effective with early intervention and prevention strategies and to ensure that clients receive the most appropriate and timely support by mid 2011.
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Increased Workforce Capacity – A national workforce strategy will be developed to address qualifications, training and cross sector career mapping issues and establishing the disability sector as an ‘industry of choice’ by the end of 2010.
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Increased Access for Indigenous Australians – A National Indigenous Access Framework will ensure that the needs of Indigenous Australians with disability are addressed through appropriate service delivery arrangements.
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Access to Aids and Equipment – More consistent access to aids and equipment by end of 2012.
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Improved Access to Disability Care – Systems that improve access to disability care and ensure people are referred to the most appropriate disability services and supports, including consideration of single access points and national consistent assessment processes in line with nationally agreed principles by end 2011.
Allocating record levels of Australian Government funding
On 29 November 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met to discuss the new financial framework and specific purpose payment reforms. COAG agreed to a new National Disability Agreement (the Agreement) to improve and expand services for people with disability, their families and carers.
The Agreement commenced on 1 January 2009 and provides the framework for the provision of government support for people with disability.
From 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2015, the Commonwealth Government will be providing around $7.6 billion in funding to the state and territory governments for increased and improved specialist disability services such as supported accommodation, targeted support and respite.
The Agreement means that in 2014-2015, the Commonwealth Government’s contribution will be around $1.4 billion, compared to $620 million in 2006-07.
Outside the agreement, the Australian Government in 2009-10, will provide a projected $11.6 billion for the Disability Support Pension and $3.9 billion in payments to carers of older people, children and people with a disability and more than $600 million for services for people with disability, including employment services.
For information on National Agreements please visit the Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations website.
Funding previously provided through the CSTDA by the Australian Government and state and territory governments
Starting the new agreement
The National Disability Agreement came into effect on 1 January 2009 and replaces the existing Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement.
Memorandum of Understanding for $100 Million Investment in Supported Disability Accommodation
On 4 May 2008 the Prime Minister and Minister for Families, Housing, Community and Indigenous Affairs jointly announced the investment of $100 million in capital funds for supported accommodation.
The funding has been distributed to State and Territory Governments on a potential population basis, with no requirement for matched funding.
This funding will be used to establish new supported accommodation facilities for people with disability.
Capital Works Funding Memorandum of Understanding
Transfer of Administrative Responsibilities of Disability Assistance Package $901 million, Targeted Support and Transition Support Services
On 30 May 2008, Disability Ministers agreed that the $901 million being offered by the Commonwealth to the States and Territories will be distributed on a disability potential population basis and will be matched by State and Territory Governments. All jurisdictions also agreed to continue to share information and work cooperatively in identifying opportunities to improve support services for people with disability with the $1.8 billion total in funding.
The Australian Government has signed individual agreements with each State and Territory Government. There are three separate elements to these Bilateral Agreements, they are:
- the transfer of the $901 million component of the former Government's Disability Assistance Package;
- the novation of funding agreements for respite capacity building; and
- the transfer of administrative responsibility for the delivery of targeted support services.
Agreements have been reached as follows:
Community and Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Council
The Community and Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Council (CDSMAC) is an official forum of senior Commonwealth, State and Territory Disability officials who discuss nationally significant disability policy issues that are relevant to the provision of specialist disability services. They advise Ministers on matters pertaining to the services covered by the National Disability Agreement.
Standing Council on Community, Housing and Disability Services
The Standing Council on Community, Housing and Disability Services provides a forum for the Australian Government, State and Territory Governments, and the Government of New Zealand, to discuss matters of mutual interest concerning community, families and disability services policy and programs. They consider matters reported to the Conference by CDSMAC and Disability Policy Research Working Group.
Research and development
Under the National Disability Agreement, the Australian, State and Territory Governments have agreed to contribute to a total of $10 million over 5 years for disability research, data and evaluation.
A National Disability Research and Development Agenda was endorsed by Disability Ministers in November 2011 and can be accessed on the Disability Policy and Research Working Group website.
The Disability Policy and Research Working Group will maintain overall responsibility for the research, data and evaluation activities under the agenda.
National Need and Supply Model
The National Need and Supply Modelling Report for 2009/10 was prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for the Disability Policy and Research Working Group as a component of the national work to address the National Disability Agreement priority (a) Better Measurement of Need. The Model provides a methodology to determine the extent to which formal disability services meet the need for support within the potential population.
The report can be found at the Disability Policy and Research Working Group website.
Finding out more
For more information about the National Disability Agreement and the National Disability Research and Development Agenda:
Email: nationaldisabilityagreement (nationaldisabilityagreement@fahcsia.gov.au)