NDIS National Community Connectors Program - Psychosocial

Overview

Mental Health Australia was pleased to work with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to implement a component of the National Community Connector Program (NCCP). 

This outreach program operated from August 2020 until 30 June 2021, and focused on connecting people with psychosocial disability with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The program had a particular focus on supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Services were provided across seven priority Local Government Areas where participation in the NDIS had been identified to be lower than expected: Brisbane, Toowoomba, Sydney, Blacktown, Stirling, Wanneroo and Darwin.

This program followed significant advocacy by Mental Health Australia and other disability sector advocates, for increased resourcing to support people with additional barriers to participate in the NDIS. 

Final Report

This report by Mental Health Australia summarises the implementation, outcomes and lessons learned from the National Community Connector Program for people with psychosocial disability. This report is based on analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from program delivery partners.

This internal review found that the National Community Connectors Program was successful in supporting greater participation of people with psychosocial disability and experience or risk of homelessness in the NDIS, across the seven program locations. The capacity to provide active outreach support, along with existing psychosocial expertise and local networks of program delivery partners, were essential in achieving these outcomes. The program demonstrated that greater equity in access to the NDIS is possible through appropriate resourcing. There remains ongoing need for this outreach and connection support.

Read the Final Report here: Outreach and connection: NDIS National Community Connectors Program for people with psychosocial disability

Partner organisations

Mental Health Australia undertook a selective commissioning process to fund experienced organisations to deliver Community Connector services. Services were be delivered by organisations with strong local understanding, psychosocial service expertise and connections with homelessness services.

In total, 12 FTE Community Connector staffoperated across the seven identified Local Government Areas, as outlined below.

Help to access the NDIS

This program was funded for 12 months until 30 June 2021, and has unfortunately now ceased. People looking for help to engage with the NDIS are instead encouraged to contact their NDIA Local Area Coordinator/Partner in the Community.

Further information for people with mental health conditions on how to access the NDIS is available through the reimagine website, created by the Mental Health Coordinating Council. Resources for supporting someone with a mental health condition to apply for the NDIS are also available through the Embark website, created by Independent Community Living Australia.

For further information, please contact NCCP@mhaustralia.org