SUBMISSION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NDIS

Below is a combined submission from myself and my mother.

I’m a woman with a physical disability, which includes being completely non-verbal. Physically, I’m very dependent on other people but intellectually I’m very capable.

I have just started on my second NDIS plan, and I feel like the set up after the review process is far too complicated. One service provider suspended service because my second plan wasn’t in place in time. This took a toll on the relationship I have with my mother who I live with, because I didn’t have sufficient support to spent time away from her. But another service I use, had a totally different view and continued service through the transition to my next plan. I feel some service providers are struggling with the implementation of the NDIS, therefore making it very difficult for their clients.

As part of my new plan, NDIS gave me funding for plan management and plan coordination. It took my mother and I some time to understand the difference between the two. There are lots of different terms NDIS use and sometimes it’s not clear what each one means, or if one term means the same thing as another.

I believe the NDIS is necessary and a good idea overall, but a lot of issues still need to be ironed out.

Laura McGee

• My daughter is thirty five years old and has cerebral palsy, Laura is affected physically only, to the extent that she is non verbal. I am and have always been Laura’s primary carer. It is better for her and me, that I am in the background offering advise and support.

• I was very hopeful that the introduction of NDIS, would allow Laura the funding to be able to gain more independence. Physically Laura will always rely on people for support, intellectually she is capable of organising her own life. Both Laura and I are happy with her level of funding. For the present I am happy to continue to provide the level of care that’s needed.

• I have found the whole process of implementation of the NDIS plan extremely confusing and difficult. Laura would struggle even more than I to navigate this system. Trying to understand the different pots of money and their uses and the terms associated to them is a nightmare. Disability service organisations are also having difficulties in providing correct information in relation to implementing NDIS programs.

• Some service providers put policies in place that don’t fit with NDIS’s intentions, ultimately it is the person with the disability that is adversely impacted. I believe that some service providers take whatever opportunities they can to work the system for themselves. The service provider that we have used for over thirty years has caused us a great deal of stress through their lack of understanding. It a not for profit organisation which now seems to see the NDIS as a way of making profits.

• They have changed their system of communication so it is inaccessible to some of their clients. They feel when their front line office staff do the wrong thing (discriminate against Laura), in the organisations eyes it is sufficient reason that the staff are new and don’t have experience working with people who have a disability. Every opportunity they can they remove Laura from their equation and call me instead of emailing Laura directly.

• The same organisation designed a Service Agreement to provide Laura’s services and in less than a month decide to remove the transport component. Therefore breaking the service agreement themselves. Prior to NDIS the majority of the staff knew who their client was and were respectful of Laura’s disability. I feel this organisation and most likely others have changed their focus and are struggling to implement service. Client’s needs, good service and respect for the client are no longer their priority.

Many positives have been the outcome for us (yes for me as well, but according to NDIS I don’t count). Our LAC was wonderful. We now have a Support Coordinator. Laura has amazing, wonderful, dedicated and kind support workers.

I felt the NDIS would be my piece of mind for when I am no longer able to provide support to Laura. Now I feel that while she has sufficient funding, to administer it will be an added burden to her.

The people sitting in their offices making decisions need to keep in mind that they are dealing with people’s lives. People who live with the same day to day stresses as everyone else but then those stresses are compounded by disability and compounded even further by government and service providers red tape.