Arabic version: برنامج جديد يعزز دعم ذوي الإعاقة في المناطق الريفية في أستراليا الغربية
A jointly funded government program aims to improve access to disability support services in remote and rural areas of Western Australia. This program, funded by state and federal governments, will connect communities with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) through allied healthcare workers.
According to ABC News, the rollout follows a successful $7.9 million pilot project in Katanning, which increased the number of people accessing the scheme and helped establish local support networks. The new initiative will expand to five regional areas: South West, Great Southern, Goldfields-Esperance, Gascoyne, and Wheatbelt.
The program will utilize a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) model to deploy healthcare workers to these regions, addressing the long distances residents must travel to access necessary services. Flight2Health, the company managing this aspect, aims to ensure that every Australian has access to NDIS allied health services, regardless of their location.
Despite this positive development, some advocates have raised concerns about the exclusion of the Kimberley region, which has one of the highest Indigenous populations. Disability advocate Victor Patrick emphasized the need for inclusion, stating that many individuals in the Kimberley may not be aware of their eligibility for NDIS assistance.
WA Disability Services Minister Hannah Beazley acknowledged that while the Kimberley region has its own unique services, there is always more to be done to enhance support for First Nations communities. She noted that efforts are ongoing to connect individuals in these areas to the NDIS, ensuring they receive the necessary assessments and support.
