Supported School Transport and National Disability Insurance Scheme Forums

QDN, through the Transport and Main Roads Accessibility Reference Group, has been asked to pass on the following information to QDN members from the Commonwealth Government, including the NDIA:

“As the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) comes into place, the Australian Government wants to hear directly from NDIS participants, parents, carers, school communities and transport providers about how we

could best support transport to and from school for NDIS participants into the future. The Department of Social Services (DSS), state and territory governments and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) are working together to understand if and how supported school transport could be delivered in the NDIS.

To help inform future options, a series of discussion forums with parents, carers and representatives of the school community are being held to discuss what is needed to support children with disability to travel to school under the NDIS.  Participant numbers at the discussion forums will be limited to 15 participants per session.

Workshops will also be held comprising the services and supports delivering assisted school transport, for example: transport providers; disability services; advocates; and other interested stakeholders. Participant numbers at the workshops will be limited to 40 participants per session.

Face to face workshops and forums will be held at:

• Townsville – 26 June 2018:  Ryan Community Centre, Morindo Drive, Kirwan
• Gympie – 27 June 2018: School Hall, Gympie State High School, 1 Everson Road, Gympie, and
• Brisbane – 28 June 2018:  Autism Hub and Reading Centre, 141 Merton Road, Woolloongabba.

Please view the Engage website for further detail on dates, session times and venues which is expected to be live within 24 to 48 hours.  All participants must register via the website: https://engage.dss.gov.au/. We encourage you to read the discussion paper online at engage.dss.gov.au prior to attending.  If you are unable to attend a forum or workshop, you can still provide input by making a submission online.

Please note: Places are limited. Registering your interest does not guarantee you will be provided a placement. Funding is not available to support attendance at a forum or workshop.  Current supported school transport arrangements will remain the responsibility of state and territory governments until all governments have considered the outcomes of the consultation and agreed on an approach.”