NDIA Accountability Project

This project is in DRAFT

MINUTES OF THE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE NDIS MEETING 7 OF 2020

‹ PrevPage 1 of 4 · Source p. 14Next ›

FOI 24/25-0546 DOCUMENT 14

Independent Advisory Council

[ndis]

MINUTES OF THE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE NDIS

MEETING 7 OF 2020

9 June 2020 11.00am to 1.30pm, hosted on the Microsoft Teams platform

Members

  • Mr John Walsh AM (Principal Member)
  • Ms Sylvana Mahmic
  • Ms Jennifer Cullen
  • Ms Janet Meagher AM
  • Mr James Manders
  • Prof Anne Kavanagh
  • Ms Liz Reid AM
  • Ms Sue Salthouse
  • Ms Kerry Allan-Zinner
  • Ms Judy Huett
  • Ms Leah van Poppel

Expert Advisers

  • Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner
  • Mr David Moody, National Disability Services
  • Ms Ara Cresswell, Carers Australia
  • Ms Jane Flanagan, Disabled People’s Organisations Australia
  • Mr Ross Joyce, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

NDIA Representatives

  • Mr Oliver Bladek, Deputy CEO Design, Digital and Strategy
  • Dr Sam redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant General Manager, Advice, Research and Evaluation
  • Ms Maryanne Diamond, General Manager Participant Advocacy
  • Mr Hassan redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant General Manager Strategy & Priorities
  • Ms Sumone redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Branch Manager Strategy
  • Mr Richard redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant A/g Branch Manager, Strategic Communications
  • Ms Kathy redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Branch Manager, Subject Matter Experts and Advice
  • Ms Jo redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Branch Manager Service Guidance and Practice
  • Marita redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Strategic Advisor Contemporary & Innovative Approaches
  • Ms Brooke redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Director, Advice, Research and Evaluation
  • Mr Ross redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Director, Home and Living Policy
  • Ms Marita redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Strategic Advisor, Contemporary & Innovative Approaches
  • Ms Fiona redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Director, Independent Advisory Council
  • Ms Taryn Hunter, Senior Strategic Communications Officer, Communications and Engagement
  • Ms Lirije redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Senior Communications Officer, Advice, Research and Evaluation
  • Ms Marina redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Secretariat Independent Advisory Council
  • Ms Jaklin redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Project Officer, Advice, Research and Evaluation
  • Ms Jodie redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Council Secretariat Support Officer

Attending

redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant material

  • Ms Belinda redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant AM, Council Consultant
  • Ms Rebecca redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant Support

Apologies

  • Mr Martin Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer
  • Ms Robyn Kruk, Board Director
  • Mr Kevin Cocks AM

Page 36 of 402

Independent Advisory Council

[ndis]

1. Principal Member’s Welcome & Open

1.1. Principal Member’s Welcome

The Principal Member opened the meeting at 11.00am.

The Principal Member acknowledged the Traditional Owners of the lands on which Members, Expert Advisers and attendees were meeting.

The Principal Member congratulated Council Member Liz Reid for her appointment as Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to people with disability, to youth and to social inclusion.

The Principal Member noted the apologies from Kevin Cocks, Martin Hoffman and Robyn Kruk.

The Principal Member thanked Council Members Kevin Cocks and Janet Meagher for their significant contributions to the NDIS and people with disability during their term as Council Members. Ms Meagher and Mr Cocks will be unavailable for the final Council meeting and will not be part of the next Council.

1.2. Confirmation of Minutes and Declarations of Interest

Council members and expert advisers noted the updated register of conflicts of interest circulated in advance of the meeting. No additional interests were declared.

The Council approved the minutes from the meeting held on 26 May 2020.

2. Home and Living

2.1. Home and Living Supports

Dr Sam redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant provided an overview of the program of work under the banner of ‘Home and Living’, and acknowledged the contributions of Council’s advice in informing the project.

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant updated Council on the latest developments around Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Individual Living Options (ILOs) and noted the aim of the reforms is to ensure participants have greater choice and control.

Council was pleased with the work to date but highlighted the need to include supports for people living in group homes to connect with others via peer groups to assist them in planning a life out of congregate settings. Members also noted that special consideration should be given to some cohorts who are more likely to be funnelled into group homes such as people in the juvenile justice system and young people aged 15-17 who are less likely to have host family arrangements in place.

Ms Ara Creswell also said it was important to support young families with children with disability throughout the early years; and to plan for the future changing needs of their children to ensure their home and living supports remain adequate.

The Council acknowledged that a broader cultural reform was needed to ensure people with disability have real choice and control in home and living, noting the role of social housing and state sponsorship of accessible living which is outside the NDIA’s remit.

Page 37 of 402

Independent Advisory Council

[ndis]

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant noted the NDIA was using the learnings from Western Australia, where 30-40% people with disability currently live in ILOs, and will be starting a market enablement pilot in Victoria to learn how to most effectively grow supply and demand, before rolling out the program nationally.

3. Guidelines Update

3.1. Practice Guidance and Operational Guidelines Update

Mr Oliver Bladek and Ms Jo redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant provided an update on the progress of the practice guidance and operational guidelines refresh.

Mr Bladek outlined the refresh aims to simplify and improve the way the NDIA communicates policy and makes decisions. In response to Council’s concerns that the updated guidelines remained process oriented, Mr Bladek noted this is an interim step towards longer term development of an overarching policy to enable greater choice, control and outcomes for participants. Ms redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant advised the Agency is engaging with participants and advocates in the Disability Network to obtain input into content and design of the new guidelines. Council member Ms Huett thanked the team for improved clarity and ease of access of the guideline for people with intellectual disability.

Council was pleased with the Agency’s direction and underlying principles, noting transparency and consistency of process and decision making an important feature. Members suggested further language translation for participant groups (CALD, intellectual disability, and Indigenous communities) would be beneficial to ensuring accessibility to all participants.

In relation to the Assistive Technology operational guideline prototype, members expressed concern that the prototype still failed to acknowledge participant individuality and experience, with little improved flexibility or choice over decisions. Council members advised that acknowledgement of participant life experience of disability and understanding differing stages of required support needed was important. Mr Bladek assured the Council that this was still an interim improvement meant to provide greater clarity of current operations rather than to reflect the Scheme of the future.

4. Future Priorities

4.1. Corporate Plan Update

Mr Hassan redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant noted the changes in the Corporate Plan since it was presented to Council in March 2020.

Mr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant noted the added aspiration to embed the learnings from the COVID-19 response, and that metrics had been amended following Council’s feedback to make them longer-term and outcomes-focused measures.

Council was pleased with the plan and recommended the aspiration on COVID-19 be refocused on the NDIS’ ability to adapt and continue to provide services in the context of any emergency, as learnings would be applicable to the bushfire emergencies or any other economic, health or natural disasters.

Page 38 of 402

Independent Advisory Council

[ndis]

4.2. Possible Council Priorities 2020/21-2021/22

The item will be progressed out of session or at the next meeting.

4.3. Council’s Communications Strategy

Mr Richard redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant and Ms Taryn redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant provided an overview of the Council’s Communications Strategy, which incorporated Member’s feedback from last consultation out of session. Members were pleased the strategy covered the need for Council to engage with the NDIA as well as participants to effectively provide advice to the NDIS Board. Council endorsed the Strategy, subject to the approval of the next Council.

Mr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant sought Council’s feedback on the NDIA’s approach to recovery after COVID-19, noting the advice members provided to the initial COVID-19 response.

Council advised the NDIA to remain flexible, as the approach to recovery would differ between states and territories, and to work closely with Commonwealth and state/territory governments to ensure consistency in the response. Ms Leah van Poppel noted a two-pronged approach may be needed, as some participants may need to continue in isolation for a longer period.

Members also suggested the NDIA assess the accessibility of the communication tools used to provide remote supports as many of the platforms presented challenges for some participants.

5. Meeting Close

5.1. Other Business

The next meeting is scheduled on 25 June, to be hosted on the Microsoft Teams platform

The meeting closed 1.29pm.

Page 39 of 402