The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Minister for Government Services
The Hon Nat Cook MP
South Australian Minister for Human Services
Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well
A new program which trials recycling disability support equipment aims to help save hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding each year.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill Shorten today launched a $5 million assistive technology program pilot, which aims to reduce equipment waste, and accelerates accessibility Australia for people with disability.
The Assistive Technology Rental and Refurbishment Pilot, delivered by Ability First Australia, will trial new approaches for increasing access, responsiveness and affordability of assistive technology.
The pilot program will initially provide support to more than 600 people with disability over the next two years, with the learnings from the pilot set to benefit more people into the future.
Recent NDIS data states that in the year to September, the NDIS funded:
- $589 million for assistive technology (AT) capital items, repair and maintenance;
- $693 million for consumable or low-cost AT (items of less than $1,500 value).
These totals include $104 million for South Australian participants and $30 million for Tasmanian participants to meet their AT needs.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill Shorten said the pilot will improve accessibility to assistive technology by reducing wait times and help save participants' NDIS funding.
"This pilot could help reengineer the assistive technology ecosystem. We want to stop the waste, and flow on effect helps not only get the right disability supports to those who need it but saves money in the process," said Minister Shorten.
"The NDIS Review told us that we must do more to support participants, but it also highlighted the need to expand upon the supports available for those who are not eligible to access the Scheme."
"Assistive technology unlocks new opportunities for social, economic and community engagement, and equips many people with disability with the resources they need to thrive."
"Boosting access to affordable assistive technology is a crucial step in creating an Australia where individualised needs can be met by our support systems and no person with disability gets left behind."
The pilot program will be funded through an Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program grant, a nation-wide program that supports people with disability to reach their full potential and equally engage with their local communities.
Ability First Australia will roll out the pilot program in partnership with its member organisations, NovitaTech and St. Giles across South Australia and Tasmania, with a final pilot in a third state or territory to be announced in due course.
South Australian Minister for Human Services Nat Cook welcomed the pilot.
"This is an amazing example of how we can support people with disability, reduce costs and help our environment all at the same time. That's a trifecta we should all be proud of," Minister Cook said.
"Assistive technology is the key to independence for many people with disability and Novita is once again showing how South Australia is a national leader in this area."
Ability First CEO, Andrew Rowley said the Assistive Technology Pilot will increase the opportunity for people with disability to access high quality refurbished equipment in a timely and flexible way, allowing people to more readily participate in their communities.
"This pilot is not limited to NDIS participants and over the next two years will be available to all eligible Australians with a disability in South Australia and Tasmania," said Mr Rowley.
"Ability First and its members know how important it is for all people with disability to access the right assistive technology at the right time, particularly children and young people with changing needs and life stages."
