Supporting out of home care for children with severe disability

Children with severe disability who are unable to live at home will receive the support and care they need. 

The Commonwealth and NSW Governments have agreed on the delivery of support arrangements provided through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the NSW Government. 

Minister for Social Services Dan Tehan said the Federal Government, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and the NSW Government continue to work on the operational details of the agreement. 

“The Commonwealth and NSW Governments agree that we need to ensure we properly support children with disability who are unable to live in the family home,” Mr Tehan said. 

“The Australian Government is committed to working with all state and territory governments to ensure that families and children with disability receive the support they need.” 

The NSW Government will be responsible for supervision of accommodation and care providers, providing support to try to keep families together, and the cost of board and lodging for children who are unable to live in the family home due to their disability. 

NSW Minister for Disability Services Ray Williams said the NSW Government is committed to successfully transitioning to the NDIS and will not let people with disability down. 

“Families who have children with disability living outside of the family home can rest assured their children’s needs will be met by the NDIS and NSW Government,” Mr Williams said. 

Through their NDIS plan, children will receive the reasonable and necessary support services that are related to their disability to allow them to live in this accommodation. 

Children and their families will be supported to live together, and where this is not possible, the NDIA, the NSW Government, and the family will work together to agree on options for the care and support of the child.