The Morrison Federal Government is committed to delivering record National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) investment and guaranteeing essential government services over the next four years.

As part of its plan for a stronger future, the Government has pledged to continue to deliver the essential services Australians rely on by fully funding the NDIS as a demand-driven scheme, with record investment of $157.8 billion over four years.

Government Services and NDIS Minister Senator Linda Reynolds said through the 2022-23 Budget the Government was improving and modernising access to government support and building a strong and sustainable workforce to support the NDIS, which is now supporting 500,000 participants.

“As part of Budget 2022-23 we are investing in growing and sustaining the care and support workforce to ensure we have enough future workers in this critical sector,” Senator Reynolds said.

“The 2022-23 Budget continues the Morrison Government’s record investment in the NDIS of $157.8 billion over four years, with $33.9 billion budgeted for 2022-23.”

“This is a significant increase compared to the $116.1 billion projected over four years in the 2021-22 Budget.”

Measures in the 2022-23 Federal Budget include:

• Initiatives under a whole of Government Care and Support Workforce Strategy.
• Supply of Rapid Antigen tests to NDIS participants in Supported Independent Living facilities, and workers in these facilities.
• Improving Australia’s digital health services and payments system.

Care and Support Workforce Strategy

As part of the Government’s commitment to increasing the quality, skills, size and attractiveness of the care and support workforce, $249.1 million will be invested to enable, grow and sustain this critical workforce, Senator Reynolds confirmed.

“This initiative builds on existing sector-specific reforms, including the NDIS National Workforce Plan 2021-2025, and provides a framework for future initiatives to support sustainable growth, and innovative and efficient service provision, across aged care, disability, veterans and broader mental health services,” she said.

1. Care and Support Sector Regulatory Alignment

The Government is continuing to implement measures to align regulation to ensure consistent levels of quality and safety for people with disability, senior Australians and veterans across the care and support sector, and create greater flexibility for workers to work more seamlessly across different types of care, Senator Reynolds said.

“Next steps in this work include further analysis and development of options for regulatory alignment, developing model options for piloting integrated audits of NDIS and aged care providers, and consideration of options for standards alignment,” she added.

2. Behavioural support training for disability support workers

As part of its commitment to a skilled and sustainable care and support workforce, the Government will invest $3.5 million in behavioural support training for up to 4000 workers who support NDIS participants with a behaviour support plan.

This will build workforce capability and skills to deliver quality support particularly to NDIS participants with psychosocial disability, Senator Reynolds said.

Providing access to Rapid Antigen Test Kits

Senator Reynolds said the Government was committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of people with disability.

To help ensure our most vulnerable Australians had equitable access to the tools they needed to live with COVID-19, the Government would continue providing free Rapid Antigen Tests to NDIS Supported Independent Living residents and workers, in line with the National Cabinet’s agreement to the new Australian Health Protection Principal Committee guidance, she said.

“This is in addition to NDIS participants being able to purchase rapid antigen tests through their NDIS plan, and approximately 82% of NDIS participants being eligible for free rapid antigen tests through the Concession Card Holder Scheme,” she said.

Improving digital health services and payments system

The 2022-23 Budget also ensures the continued improvement of critical government services Australians access every day.

In particular, Senator Reynolds said, the Government would further enhance Australia’s digital health services and payments system, with $96.8 million allocated to the next phase of the Health Delivery Modernisation Program.

“This investment is delivering new digital health services and modernising Services Australia’s critical health payments system,” she said.

“The funding will further transform the way Australians do their business with Medicare online.”

“We’re making more services available digitally and placing customers and healthcare providers at the centre of health services and systems.”

“This allocation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to making government services simple for all Australians, so they can get on with their lives.”