NDIA Accountability Project

Improving outcomes for people with psychosocial disability

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Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS

Submission 27

27 October 2021

Hon Kevin Andrews MP Chair Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme

By upload to online portal

deeply sorry Mr Andrews

Re: Submission to the inquiry into current scheme implementation and forecasting for the NDIS

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Joint Standing Committee’s inquiry into current scheme implementation and forecasting for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The RANZCP is the principal organisation representing the medical specialty of psychiatry in Australia and New Zealand and is responsible for training, educating and representing psychiatrists on policy issues. The RANZCP represents more than 7300 members in Australia and New Zealand and is guided on policy matters by a range of expert committees, including the Section of Psychiatry of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. As such, The RANZCP is well positioned to provide advice about the NDIS due to the breadth of academic, clinical and service delivery expertise it represents, including community members (consumers and carers) with lived experience.

The RANZCP will be providing a full submission to the inquiry in time for the Final Report. This submission will provide detail on key areas for improvement aimed at strengthening outcomes for people with psychosocial disability, including those who are eligible for the NDIS and for those who are not. These key areas include the need to:

  • Develop processes to include healthcare professionals in NDIS planning to ensure more holistic care and support is provided to participants. Triangulation between clinicians, NDIS participants, and the NDIA is required.
  • Support healthcare professionals to assist their patient access the NDIS and navigate NDIS processes. This is inclusive of remuneration for the time spent and unmet costs for healthcare professionals in undertaking the supports that a participant or prospective participant requires for meeting NDIS requirements including evidence provision.
  • Acknowledge the overlap between the disability, health, and other social service and welfare sectors. The NDIS needs to be part of an integrated system.
  • Ensure NDIS processes best reflect the fluctuating nature of psychosocial disability and support a model of recovery. This is essential for providing positive experiences for NDIS participants with mental health conditions.

309 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia T +61 3 9640 0646 F +61 3 9642 5652 ranzcp@ranzcp.org www.ranzcp.org ABN 68 000 439 047

Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS

Submission 27