Annual Report No. 2 of the 48th Parliament
Submission 26
To whom it may concern,
My name is and my daughter is an NDIS participant. She is 21 but unable to look after herself in any form.
I really wish I could speak to the bureaucrats attempting to reform the NDIS because the system is no different and I would say worse than the previous one. You have public servants assessing (and I use that term loosely), what apparent needs are. Despite the fact I provided them with a comprehensive Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) sent follow up emails the tone deaf responses you receive are infuriating not to mention they clearly demonstrate these public servants have no appreciation, understanding or relevant expertise on assessing the needs of the vulnerable in our community. All they’re doing is reading a piece of legislation and then jamming a square peg in a round hole.
In my instance, I have an APS 5 public servant clinging to a singular phrase in the FCA and cutting her in home care funding to 6 hours. although 21, is functioning as a 4–5-year-old and because the OT stated one phrase that she needs prompting to shower etc that is what they are relying on to say she doesn’t need any in home care beyond that. On top of that my husband and I both work full time and day respite services do not cover the entire day only 8-3 and that includes travel.
I asked for a breakdown on how they calculated the amount because they just say here’s your lump sum and no response. They took funding off me for Auslan support and training because apparently it’s time limited but I couldn’t use in previous plans because I had to redirect it to cover care and support services.
How can a public servant sitting in another state that does not have any conversations or is involved in the face-to-face assessment of the participant adequately determine with any certainty what a participant requires. This is just a ridiculous system with decision making sitting with public servants without any interest or knowledge on the person they are making decisions about. The responses were so quick there is absolutely no way they read the FCA in any detail and then misinterpreted it and used it to justify erroneous claims in determing funding.
I will compile some additional information and try to argue but they are saying I have to put it through as a ‘change of circumstance’, for god sake disability is permanent and life long and I have been providing her care for 21 years, do you think I have the energy to have to keep arguing with these inept bureaucrats just to get basic funding. I don’t ask for anything over the top just enough to assist her in having sufficient support for her to have a normal life and for us as parents to have some semblance of a normal parenting experience for a child of 21 years. Any wonder you have parents burning out and taking drastic measures.
Annual Report No. 2 of the 48th Parliament
Submission 26
This will probably fall on deaf ears knowing this current government but at least I have stood up for rights.
Regards