NDIA Accountability Project

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Independent Advisory Council

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1. Principal Member’s welcome and open

1.1. Principal Member’s welcome

The Principal Member opened the meeting at 1.35pm.

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

The Principal Member noted apologies from Ms Reid and Mr Hoffman who were unable to attend the meeting. The Principal Member also advised Council that Dr Boyce and Ms Mahmic will be arriving late.

The Principal Member advised Council that the deadline for feedback on the Personalised Budget Tool paper has been extended, noting Members will also have the opportunity to provide verbal feedback to the Agency during the meeting.

1.2. Minutes, matters arising and declarations of interest

Council noted the updated register of conflicts of interest circulated in advance of the meeting.

Council approved the minutes from the meeting held on 21 April 2021 and noted the matters arising.

1.3. Board Chair update

The NDIA Board Chair acknowledged the letter sent by Council, advising a draft response will be available shortly. The Board Chair stressed the importance of Council’s advice and noted their advice is taken extremely seriously by the Board and Agency.

The Board Chair discussed with Members the challenges the Agency is facing regarding Scheme reforms and financial affordability. The Board Chair reiterated the need to work collaboratively with Council to ensure the reforms are done well, in line with insurance principles and the Scheme is financially sustainable in the future.

2. Council Reports

2.1. Members and Expert Adviser: Snapshot of issues and concerns

Council Members raised a number of concerns they had heard related to the NDIS, including:

  • Workforce shortages and delays in worker screening checks, particularly in rural and remote areas
  • Low COVID-19 vaccination numbers for people with a disability living in group homes, members noting that this is a disability issue, not directly related to the NDIS.

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  • The importance of accessible communications and inclusive engagement, including Plain English, Easy Read, and alternative formats like video or animation.
  • Lack of trust in the Scheme and misinformation spread by the media continues to cause unrest between the disability community and the Agency. Members raised the need for the Agency to be transparent and proactive in their communications.
  • Adult guardians making significant decisions for participants without including them. This is particularly evident for participants with complex communication needs and acquired brain injuries. Members stressed the importance of good support for decision making.
  • Inadequate supports for participants with ageing parents, participants who are ageing themselves, or those moving out of aged care or group settings.
  • Equity issues for diverse communities in the Scheme, noting the poor growth of the number of participants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.
  • The National Community Connector Program ending, and no other program to replace it.
  • Misconception in the community that the NDIA is removing the option to self- manage from the Scheme. Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant in response, confirmed the Agency is not moving away from self-management.
  • Lower funding in plans at review, especially when plans are rolled over and plan time is extended. Members noted clearer communications and education is needed for participants about money in packages and money they spend.

Action 1: Secretariat to obtain responses to questions on notice from Mr Tonga on draft plans and transport submitted prior to the meeting.

2.2. Formal advice ‘Supporting participants to be included in the

community’

The Principal Member reminded Council to provide feedback on the formal advice ‘Supporting participants to be included in the community’, noting this paper will be presented to the Board in July.

The Principal Member advised that Council’s advice ‘Choice and control to safely live a good life of belonging and citizenship’ will be delayed until the June Board meeting. She conveyed the NDIA’s concerns that the advice focuses only on the NDIS, noting the responsibility for participant’s safety is broader than the NDIA and the Scheme. Council agreed for the advice to be updated to reflect the broader ecosystem surrounding participant safety.

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3. Scheme Reform

3.1. Scheme Reform Consultation

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant briefed the Council on progress of the Scheme Reform Forum planning, noting the Design Team (Council representatives and Agency Staff members) is meeting weekly.

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant confirmed the Scheme Reform Forum will take place on 10 and 11 June in Sydney, with remote participation available. He advised Members the focus of the forum is to work collaboratively with the Agency to discuss affordability pressures, specific proposals on Scheme reforms (including Independent Assessments (IAs)) and obtain consensus on recommendations to the Board and Minister for the NDIS.

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant advised that Thinkplace is the confirmed independent facilitator, noting they are familiar with the Scheme and have the right skills and approach to allow for an inclusive and collaborative process.

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

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant mentioned planning is underway for follow-up engagement after the forum, including integrating state and territory engagement into this work. Council members will have an opportunity to participate in state and territory workshops within their jurisdictions.

The Board Chair queried whether members were seeking Board attendance at the upcoming Scheme Reform Forum. The Principal Member thanked the Board Chair for her offer and advised that the design team would confirm.

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant highlighted progress of other Agency work, including:

  • Reviewing the 300+ submissions from the public consultation “Interventions for children on the autism spectrum”.
  • Finalising the Home and Living Policy and Support for Decision Making Policy, before public release.

Members provided feedback to Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant on the Personalised Budget tool paper, including:

  • the paper is very technical, dense and long, stressing the importance of using clear and simple language. Members suggested using alternative accessible formats — easy read, video or animation — to convey messages would be beneficial.
  • questioning the appropriateness of the word ‘Personas’, noting this word may be of concern to community
  • need for inclusion of information on how the IAs will be rolled out, and the Agency strategy to ensure the personalised budgeting approach works as intended.
  • the need for checks and balances, to ensure personal safeguards for participants

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  • the paper was a step towards transparency and building trust within the community.

Dr redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant welcomed further feedback from Members on this work out of session.

4. Corporate Plan

4.1. NDIA Corporate Plan 2021-2025

Mr Bladek provided Council with a brief overview of the 2021-2025 Corporate Plan, noting it is still under development. Mr Bladek advised Members the plan will guide the Agency through its immediate consideration of Scheme reform priorities, to longer term aspirations and strategic direction over the next four years.

Council members thanked Mr Bladek for his update and reiterated their willingness to continue to work with the Agency to finalise the plan.

Members raised the need for greater importance on support for decision making and deeper analysis on socioeconomic status and location versus plan size and utilisation.

5. Council Priorities

5.1. Council’s 2021-22 Work Plan

Ms redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant and Reference Group Co-Chairs presented an overview of the priorities identified at the recent Reference Group meetings. Members discussed how these could inform Council priorities and 2021-22 Work Plan

The Principal Member led the discussion on the initial identification of priorities for Council’s formal and informal advice, noting that the Work Plan will link to the Agency Corporate Plan 2021-2025, and the priorities identified by the Board.

The Principal Member summarised the discussion, noting three main themes:

  • Scheme Reform
  • Equity of access to the Scheme - interface with other government agencies (the NDS, justice, education and health)
  • Engagement

The Principal Member advised Council that further work will occur out of session to refine the Work Plan priorities prior to finalisation at the June Council meeting.

6. Meeting close

6.1. Other Business

The Principal Member noted the additional information available in the Resource Centre on Diligent and encouraged Members to take the time to review.

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The Principal Member thanked the Board Chair for making the time to attend. Additionally thanking Co-Chairs and other members who attended the Reference Groups.

6.2. Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled 22 June 2021 from 1.30pm-4.30pm.

Delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency 6

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