NDIA Accountability Project

Clubhouse SA Inc - Diamond House submission on the provision of services for people with mental illness under the NDIS

‹ PrevPage 1 of 4 · Source p. 1Next ›

Clubhouse SA Inc – Diamond House Social Development Submission

The following is our submission to the Social Development Committee, Parliament of South Australia in response to the inquiry into the provision of services for people with mental illness under the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Diamond House has held several focus groups and gathered the responses, comments and experiences from Staff and Members of Diamond House who have applied for the NDIS, who were deemed ineligible for the NDIS, who are eligible and who are in the process of receiving an NDIS Package and those that are currently receiving NDIS supports.

  1. The gap between the Federal Government’s predicted and realised percentages of mental health clients receiving NDIS support; The MHCSA has the most accurate figures. 10-15% of our Members have applied (15 out of 125)
  2. The reduction in funding to the Personal Helpers and Mentors program and Mental Health Respite Carer Support program and the impact this will have on people with mental illness;

We support the findings of the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA). Of which we are a Member, who reported in September 2018 that DSS had committed to return funding to service providers given the slower than expected transition to NDIS.

The MHCSA continues to participate in the NDIS Task Force chaired by the Chief Psychiatrist Dr John Brayley. At the meeting on the 28th August we were presented with the latest numbers on how the rollout is progressing in relation to Commonwealth funded programs (PHaMS, PIR and Day to Day Living)

  • There were 2,231 people in the three programs
  • 255 people had been deemed eligible for NDIS, and
    • 91 had an approved plan
    • 164 people were awaiting a plan
  • 942 had been deemed – meaning they couldn’t be contacted by the NDIA
  • 139 people had declined to test their eligibility
  • 565 people had been deemed ineligible (25%)

The post transition planning appears to be still based on estimates that 80% of people in programs like the PHaMs program will be eligible to receive NDIS supports. Currently the percentage is closer to 25% accessing the NDIS.

  1. The ongoing requirements for block funded mental health services provided by the State Government after the NDIS transition;
    • Currently Diamond House receives block funding from SA Health to provide psychosocial day & group support programs for 125 people per year with mental health conditions.
    • It is costing SA Health approximately $2400 per year to support 1 person through our psychosocial day & group programs which equates to $46.00 per person per week
    • It costs approximately $1500 per day if one of our Members is admitted into a psychiatric ward which equates to $10,500 per week
    • We do not have guarantee of continued block funding as at 30th June 2019
    • Since April 2018 15 Members/people currently applying for the NDIS
    • As at 31st October only 1 person currently has a plan and NDIS funds
    • The other 110 Members are not eligible or have decided that they are not applying because they consider themselves to be well and are staying well
    • 110 Members/people will still require psycho social supports at Diamond House
    • These people currently have limited support from other community mental health programs including GP Access, PHaMs and Partners in Recovery (PIR)
    • Most of these organisations/programs do not have any guarantee of continued funding after June 30th 2019
    • We are deeply concerned that if our funding and other programs cease in June 2019 that many people with lived experience of mental illness will find it very difficult to get any support for their mental health needs and therefore the likelihood of becoming unwell
    • May result in increased numbers presenting at Mental Health Services, Emergency Departments , possible increases in suicide rates , homelessness, domestic violence, drug & alcohol problems, breakdown in family and other relationships and increased crime.
    • Predictions are that approximately 80% of community mental health programs will have transitioned to the NDIS by June 30th 2019
    • Diamond House psychosocial programs will increase by 25% as people who are not eligible for NDIS look for support programs that are still available
    • Already experiencing people coming in who can no longer access these programs with out NDIS funds or paying for the programs themselves
    • We may be one of the few organisations that will be able to expand and continue to provide support services to these people who are not accessing or eligible for the NDIS

  1. The effects on South Australians with mental health issues who are deemed ineligible to receive NDIS funding: Our Members who have applied and been deemed ineligible have said they felt :

    • Stressed, anxious, inadequate , unworthy, that the process was intrusive, reliving some of the worst times in their lives, constant reminders of negative aspects of having a mental illness
    • Relieved they can still attend Diamond House
    • 1 Member has had 3 admissions to hospital since being notified she was ineligible for NDIS after 7 years of no admissions – currently reapplying
    • Currently has 2 hours per week support from CSI
    • Another Member did not get NDIS as she had to prove that her mental illness was lifelong
    • She has 3 mental health conditions and had mental illness since she was a teenager - currently reapplying
    • Many do not reapply

  2. The sufficiency of services provided to people with mental illness who are accepted into the NDIS;

    • Too soon for us to know
    • Concerns about what services will be left after 30/6/19 and available for NDIS people
    • Many community mental health programs are not taking on any more clients eg Partners in Recovery and PHAMS which did not require referrals from Mental Health Services

  3. The effects on South Australians with mental health issues undertaking the application process for the NDIS;

    • Very dependent on whether the psychiatrist/psychologist/GP is prepared to complete the supporting evidence forms properly
    • Heavily reliant on the information the psychiatrist/psychologist/GP puts in the supporting evidence form specific references to how the mental health condition/impairment affects the day to functioning of the person
    • Takes too long and requires a lot of time to get the required information
    • Competing the forms properly
    • Information from NDIS keeps changing
    • Difficult to get help to complete the forms eg people coming into Diamond House specifically to apply for the NDIS because they are not able to find help in the community
    • Information sent to the NDIA in the Supporting evidence may not have been read and is not always at the Planning meeting so has to be repeated
    • Depends on the experience, knowledge of the planner
    • Brings back bad memories and experiences
    • ‘Why bother this is just too hard. ‘
    • Very difficult for people from CALD backgrounds
  1. Any other relevant matters.
    • From the time a Member has submitted their supporting evidence forms, for our Members it has taken 6 months to be notified that the person is successful or ineligible, set a planning meeting date and receiving a Plan.

I would like to register an interest in presenting oral evidence as well as submitting this written submission

Kim Smith Director of Clubhouse SA Inc –Diamond House redacted