The Chairperson

NDIS SENATE COMMITTEE

My first plan was greeted with much anticipation, this at long last was an opportunity for me to attain my goals and be able to take my place in society, given that I am both sight impaired and hearing impaired, this first plan was to start on 09/03/2018. My enthusiasm was short lived, for the following reasons.

• I was granted approximately $23000, for my fist plan starting 09/03/2018 I expected this plan to end on 09/03/2019, It did not, It ended on 29/01/2019, with a remaining budget of 66%, I feel I was penalised because I had used my budget with care, trying to ex1end it to the full length of the plan, I felt cheated.
• My first plan was prepared with the kind assistance of, weslelgh central mission, however I was forced to use The Brotherhood of St Laurence, in Broadmeadows, for my second plan I found it a most demeaning experience, I received .llll.assistance with making the plan, I’d say, more effort was put into saving the NDIS cash than assisting me with assessing my needs, or assisting-me to define or reach my goals.
• My understanding of the NDIS, Is thst It Is all about client choice, so why force me to use an agency, I clearly don’t wish to use. i was most happy with the service provided by Wesielgh Mission, I am most unhappy with my current provider, The Brotherhood of St Laurence.
• From my own point of view, people with disabilities should and need to be helping to run the scheme, as they know the ture challenges of living with a disability and in my case multiple, disabillties.
• My current budget will not permit me to gain further improvement, I was allocated $13000 within this budget is a transport allowance, paid fortnightly, It equates, to less than I received, under the old mobility system.
• For those of us who are self managed there Is no indexation, we have an Inflation rate of 3% at the moment, however this wlll not always be the case, consequently, without some form of indexation, those on the NDIS wlll once again full behind, in living standard.
• Now I am considering the things, I wish to achieve in my third plan, the .issue is will I get the necessary funding, to reach my goals and aspirations, In today’s modern society, It is difficult to plan ahead with my funding being cut. The NDIS that once held such promise for me, now only brings disappointment and sorrow.

Adverse comment right of reply

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Brotherhood of St Laurence 67 Brunswick Street Fitzroy 3065 Victoria Australia Telephone: 03 9483 1183 Facsimile: 03 9417 2691

7 March 2019

Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme By email: NDIS.Sen@aph.gov.au

Re: Adverse comment right of reply

The Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) aims to ensure that we provide people with dignity, respect and excellent service. We welcome and actively seek feedback from NDIS participants, to help us to improve and meet that objective.

On the information provided, we appear to have missed the mark on this occasion, and we would welcome the opportunity to respond directly to the participant.

Our normal approach is to provide participants, families, and carers with a person-centred NDIS planning experience. We provide information around the planning process, plan approval and support provided to the participant by the Local Area Coordinator (LAC) through the life of their plan. If a participant does not want BSL LAC to undertake the planning meeting, we discuss a local planning arrangement with the NDIA. Wherever possible, we seek to accommodate people’s preferences.

An expected focus for every BSL planning meeting is to support each person to identify their goals and then consider how they will be achieved through community, mainstream and funded supports. This is a collaborative process between the LAC and participant. The plan is then built to align with each person’s goals and the requirements of the NDIS Act - and submitted to the NDIA for approval. We then support people to implement their approved plans. At every stage, we recognise the right of each person to exercise choice and to control their own supports.

Thank you for providing the opportunity to respond to this comment.

Yours sincerely,

Conny Lenneberg Executive Director