ACT first with disability scheme in full

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction to roll out the national disability insurance scheme in full and outsource some government services.

About 5000 Canberrans with a disability will move to the NDIS from July 1, making the territory the first jurisdiction to accept all eligible residents into the scheme.

It will also outsource a number of specialist government-provided disability services over the next three years, with the loss of about 500 territory jobs.

All disability accommodation services will be outsourced by June 2017, early intervention services for children with a disability by December 2014, and specialist therapy services by 2016.

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said people using the services would be able to make their own choice about their providers, rather than the government dictating that decision.

"It completely changes the balance of power ... because people will start having rights about their housing and the kind of care they want," Ms Gallagher told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

Ms Gallagher said there would be some difficulties with the job losses but more will be created by the private sector as firms rush to the territory to provide services.

"We acknowledge with our eyes open and our hearts open that this will involve some change and that will be difficult, but nothing that we can't address together."

ACT Education Minister Joy Burch said the territory was leading the nation with the full roll-out.

"It's the entire service system moving through the whole scheme. We are taking our entire community through the NDIS," she said.

The territory was the first jurisdiction to sign up to the NDIS. There are currently about 2500 people receiving disability services.

The Health Services Union warned the outsourcing decision would force its workers to compete for their jobs in the private sector with lower pay and conditions.

It will also mean lower standards of care for those with a disability, it said.