WA My Way trials could show the rest of the country : Minister Helen Morton

WA Disability Services Minister Helen Morton has launched trials of a new system called My Way which she says is an NDIS style innovation that could show the rest of the country how to deliver quality services under a federated system.  See the release here

WA forges ahead with NDIS type scheme

• More control, flexibility and choice over supports and services
• WA prepares to launch site for National Disability Insurance Scheme

A new project that embodies the key hallmarks of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been launched in Western Australia. 

The first of its kind in Australia, the ‘My Way’ project will improve the choice, flexibility and control that people with disability have over their supports and services. 

Disability Services Minister Helen Morton said the My Way project embodied key aspects of the Productivity Commission’s report for an NDIS. She said the WA pilot project would demonstrate how funds could flow directly to people needing it most without being syphoned into a new national bureaucracy.  

“This project has all the hallmarks of an NDIS with individualised funding, allowing more choice and control for people with disability of the services and supports that suit them in their local community,” Mrs Morton said.  

“I wrote to Federal Minister Jenny Macklin two weeks ago offering WA to host an NDIS site to demonstrate this. In the meantime, we are going ahead with our own project which will deliver the best outcomes for people in WA.”  

The Minister said the project would initially be offered in Cockburn-Kwinana; the Perth Hills; the Goldfields and the Lower South West Commission service areas to people with disability eligible for Disability Services Commission services.  

“The WA model of My Way could show the rest of the country and the Federal Government the best way of delivering quality services to people under a federated scheme.  It will mean people can make decisions at a local level rather than decisions being referred to Canberra or the east coast as proposed under the Federal Government’s approach,” she said. 

The project will be implemented in close partnership with the non-government sector and My Way co-ordinators will be based at government and non-government organisations.  

Fact File About 2,000 people in four locations have the choice to join the My Way project For more about My Way and the upcoming meetings visit http://www.disabilty.wa.gov.au or email myway@dsc.wa.gov.au