Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme

PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Re: NDIS General Issues Enquiry

Summary:

This submission outlines my experience in dealing with the NDIS on behalf of my grandson.

• The scheme is controlled by the Providers/Support Workers, LAC’s are difficult to contact and appear to be overwhelmed with clients.
• Too easy for Support Workers to register with providers (insufficient “vetting” of qualifications)
• Plan Managers able to approve invoices without confirming service provided
• Concerns for clients when family support no longer available (due to age, illness, etc)

Background:

My grandson (C) is 23 years old, his mother passed away suddenly in May 2021. His father takes a “distant interest” in his life and rejected all suggestions to be more involved in C’s life, so at age 75, I assumed the role of carer for C.

Experience:

I have very little knowledge of the NDIS. I worked through the initial stages and C was accepted into the scheme.

I volunteer at a Community Support Agency and I am upset by the number of parents (particularly single parents) who are trying to cope with children/family members who have either been refused NDIS or who are receiving insufficient funding.

C’s original plan did not include a Support Co-Ordinator and I was told to “register with providers” and select suitable candidates. Candidates can “advertise” on these sites with minimal (if any) qualifications/training particularly if providing Social Support and Domestic Assistance., with some openly admitting “I need to make some extra money”. The LAC advised he could not assist/recommend as this could be seen as “Conflict of Interest”.

I asked one provider “What do you look for when engaging a Support Worker” – Answer “Whether or not I think they’re a ‘good’ person; a pretty vague measure but I like to think I’ve got a good read on people and a good bullsh*t radar”

The hourly rates are (to my mind) generous and the scheme deserves skilled workers who have a real interest in their clients, sadly this is not always the case.

Suggestion:

Participant’s initial Plan include the provision of a “Support Coordinator” (or similar) for a minimum of six (6) weeks to assist in navigating the complex and very important area of choosing support workers.

Interview applicants (as opposed to just looking at submitted applications), find out what is really needed and require “Support CoOrdinator” to ensure that the correct services are in place.

Support Workers be required to have official training/certificates, Provider agencies be required to be more aware of who is advertising on their platforms.

Plan Management:

We chose to work with a Plan Manager, with all claims requiring to be approved by myself prior to payment, I found out that invoices not approved within a set period are automatically paid, after I failed to approve an invoice due to errors.

Suggestion: Automatic payment by Plan Managers should not be allowed, all invoices should have to be approved by the Participant or their Carer. The Plan Manager has no knowledge of what services have or have not been provided.

NDIS/DES C was able to secure an “entry level” job without any Government/DES support. I now find he is “locked out of the system” and cannot progress in his work life until he resigns from/loses his job, DES have no funding to support someone to find a “better” job – discrimination?

Suggestion: Allow “one off/short term” funding for a DES to assist NDIS participants to progress in their career. Whilst this may not directly benefit the NDIS, it has the potential to have a flow-on effect to Pension payments.

Concerns I will be 77 this year, I have been assured that NDIS will “step in and take over” when I am no longer capable of supporting C. however from what I see/hear I am concerned that the scheme will not have the funds/resources to support him, and he will end up “on the streets”.

The scheme is controlled by the Providers/Support Workers, LAC’s are difficult to contact and appear to be overwhelmed with clients.