Capability and Culture of the NDIA

Submission 41

Dear Joint Committee Members,

My name is Nicholas Dixon, I write representing myself and my wife Jennifer, both nurses who are very cognizant of all of the needs of the disabled. Our interest in the capability and culture within the NDIA relates to our ownership two, three-bedroom HPS SDA residences in south-western Queensland, managed by the SDA Provider, NDISP Pty Ltd.

We would like to address the Terms of Reference Part A, in particular operational processes and procedures.

The income from these two houses is the source of our retirement income. Our prime concern is that at the time of the annual review of each participant’s plan, the monthly SDA rent and MRRC payments are held over until the review is completed. This commonly takes two to three months to complete. During this period with only part income, our cashflow is severely impacted with SDA provider fees, scheme compliance fees, the houses’ significant utility and maintenance expenses and mortgage repayments still needing to be paid on time.

We feel that if a continuation of the pre-review payments was maintained throughout the review period with an adjustment made (be it up or down) subsequent to the completion of the review, we would not have to find the extra cash needed to fund these lean periods. With six participants in residence, this occurs at six different times every year. Ultimately, following our suggestion would not negatively effect the scheme’s budget.

On a broader level, if it becomes evident to would-be owner investors that cashflows are not constant and predictable, they might well be dissuaded from investing in this most important sector.

While as owner investors, we do not have any direct contact with the NDIA, NDIS, SILs or the participants themselves, we are severely impacted by the lack of response to NDISP’s communications with their local NDIS contacts. We receive the same commentary from them every month, “we have contacted the NDIS by email and phone and had absolutely no response – not even an acknowledgment of our request. It appears that approvals have stalled nearly completely in spite of the demand still being out there.”

We have few other insights into the mechanics of the approval process but it is evident that participant applicants are still living in inappropriate accommodation while the wheels of the NDIS turn slowly.

Sincerely

Nicholas and Jennifer Dixon