Submission No 315
INQUIRY INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AND THE PROVISION OF DISABILITY SERVICES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Name: Ms Raychelle Sullings Date Received: 19 July 2018
There are numerous reasons I am completing this submission but none more important than the direct impact on our clients and their caregivers by changes to the NDIS funds since 1.7.2018. As a Provider, my role is to liaise with NDIS to ensure that our clients who are participants can access the funds in their plan in a timely manner. All requests that I send to NDIS are necessary however, at times, I do not get a response in a satisfactory time frame. Examples are attached.
Examples of NDIS changes and financial impacts on children.
LM attends school at Waratah. Prior to 1.7.2018, travel was $25. After 1.7.2018, travel is $89.63. 3 ½ times the travel.
LB attends school at Warners Bay. Prior to 1.7.2018, travel was $5.26. After 1.7.2018, travel is $59.75. 11 times the travel.
BB has home visits at Bolton Point. Prior to 1.7.2018, travel was $68. After 1.7.2018, travel is $119.51. More than $50 more per visit.
BN has school visits at Glendale. Prior to 1.7.2018, travel was $19.31. After 1.7.2018, travel is $89.63. More than 4 ½ times travel.
AW has school visits in Mayfield. Prior to 1.7.2018, travel was $50. After 1.7.2018, travel is $119.51. More than double the travel cost.
AO has school visits in Adamstown Heights. Prior to 1.7.2018, travel was $0 as it was inside 10km. After 1.7.2018, travel is $44.82. Over a year, based on fortnightly visits, this will be an extra $896.40.
All children inside a 10km radius for school and home visits were previously not charged for travel. Since 1.7.2018, it is a minimum of $14.94. If a child is having weekly school visits, that is an additional $597.60 per year.
Every child is impacted by the changes to travel which means every parent and caregiver is impacted.
The admin and therapy staff are attempting to change school visits so that as many can be done in the same area however there are restrictions with schools and when they can make the child available.