National Disability Insurance Scheme participants who are stuck in hospital due to NDIS delays will be prioritised under a new plan agreed to by the Labor Government and the States and Territories.

Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten, and Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, today met with disability ministers from around Australia to find a new way forward for the scheme.

Today there are approximately 1,100 NDIS participants stuck in hospital while they wait, sometimes for many months, for appropriate, approved accommodation. 

All ministers agreed to work together to improve safe and timely exits of NDIS participants from hospital.

An agreement was also reached to ensure people with disability are prioritised in the nation’s pandemic response, to bring forward a review of the scheme, and to work collaboratively.

There will be a renewed focus on building trust in the NDIS for the 518,000 participants and their families, as well as the workforce.