07 October 2021
Ms Julie Yeend
Branch Manager, NDIS Governance
Australian Government Department of Social Services
71 Athllon Drive
Greenway ACT 2900
By email: NDISConsultations@dss.gov.au
Dear Ms Yeend
Re: Consultation on proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) legislative improvements and the Participant Service Guarantee
Audiology Australia (AudA) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission response to the Australian Government’s consultation on the proposed NDIS legislative improvements and the Participant Service Guarantee.
AudA is the peak professional body for the health profession of audiology, representing over 3,000 audiologists across Australia. Audiologists provide a wide range of hearing services and supports to their clients which include participants of the NDIS. Currently, there are 22,363 NDIS participants with a hearing impairment, representing 5% of the total 466,619 participants in the NDIS (NDIA 2021).
Key points in AudA’s submission to the Department of Social Services include:
- in-principle support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021 (the Bill) and the proposed changes to the NDIS Rules
- concerns and considerations raised in regard to selected amendments proposed in Schedule 1 and 2 of the Bill
- the need for greater flexibility in the use of NDIS funding for participants with a hearing impairment
- the need for consistency in the decision-making processes undertaken by National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) staff in regard to the allocation of funding for participants with a hearing impairment
- a recommendation that the NDIA consider the inclusion of remote microphone technology (RMT) and auditory therapy as evidence-based interventions for children with autism and functional listening difficulties who are NDIS participants.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspect of our submission with you further. I can be contacted via Elissa Campbell, Advocacy and Policy Manager on (03) 9940 3900 or elissa.campbell@audiology.asn.au.
Yours sincerely
Dr Barbra Timmer
President