The Palaszczuk Government is expanding efforts to support more people with disability, particularly those living in regional, rural and remote parts of the state, to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Minister for Disability Services Coralee O’Rourke said Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) would be a much-needed Targeted Outreach partner for the Queensland Government’s new Assessment and Referral Team (ART).

“This team provides an intensive case management approach to support people from vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups and areas to access the NDIS,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“They do this, firstly, by working with local service providers to identify people who may need extra help to apply for the NDIS.

“The team then work intensely with these people to help them with NDIS assessments and the application process.

“QDN, as our Targeted Outreach partner, will play a key role in identifying and connecting potential NDIS participants to ART for further support in their transition to the NDIS.”

People in the Maryborough, South Burnett, North Burnett and the Fraser Coast region can contact the ART from today (Monday 10 February).

The ART is part of the Disability Connect and Outreach Program (DCOP) which underpins the Queensland Government’s efforts to increase the number of Queenslanders with disability in the NDIS.

The Queensland Government negotiated $20 million for DCOP from the Commonwealth Government to help more people with disability access the NDIS.

Mrs O’Rourke said increasing access to the NDIS for new entrants is the Commonwealth Government’s responsibility, but Queensland had stepped up to help with this important work.

“We want to see all eligible people with disability accessing services and support through the NDIS across all areas of the state,” she said.