Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Broome 6725, Australia.
The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Broome 6725, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 24;18(17):8907. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18178907.
This study explored the process and early outcomes of work undertaken by a program to increase Aboriginal people's awareness of, and access to, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This 'Access Program' was implemented through the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. Access Program staff were interviewed to explore the strengths, challenges, and future directions of the program. The demographics, primary disability types, and NDIS access outcomes for clients who engaged with the program in the first 12 months of its implementation have been described. The Access Program engaged with 373 clients during the study period and assisted 118 of these to achieve access to the NDIS. The program was reported as successful by staff in its aim of connecting eligible people with the NDIS. Vital to this success was program implementation by the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector. Staff in these organisations held community trust, provided culturally appropriate services, and utilised strengths-based approaches to overcome barriers that have historically hindered Aboriginal people's engagement with disability services. Our results demonstrate the Access Program is a successful start in increasing awareness of, and access to, the NDIS for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region. Much work remains to assist the large number of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region believed to be eligible for NDIS support who are yet to achieve access.
本研究探讨了一个旨在提高原住民对国家残疾保险计划（NDIS）的认识和获得该计划服务的项目所开展的工作的过程和早期成果。该“准入计划”是通过西澳大利亚偏远的金伯利地区的原住民社区控制部门实施的。对准入计划的工作人员进行了访谈，以探讨该计划的优势、挑战和未来方向。描述了在该计划实施的头 12 个月中与该计划接触的客户的人口统计学、主要残疾类型和 NDIS 准入结果。在研究期间，准入计划接触了 373 名客户，并帮助其中的 118 名客户获得了 NDIS 的准入。工作人员报告称，该计划在将符合条件的人联系到 NDIS 方面取得了成功。该计划的成功实施离不开原住民社区控制部门的支持。这些组织的工作人员拥有社区信任，提供文化适宜的服务，并采用基于优势的方法来克服历史上阻碍原住民参与残疾服务的障碍。我们的结果表明，准入计划是提高金伯利地区原住民对 NDIS 的认识和获得该计划服务的一个成功开端。还有很多工作要做，以帮助金伯利地区许多被认为有资格获得 NDIS 支持但尚未获得支持的原住民。
