Submission to Joint Standing Committee on NDIS

I wish to comment on 2 NDIS related issues.

Firstly, Funding for transport to community-based activities

In his Media release of 3 February 2020 Minister Roberts said” transport funding in NDIS plans is always about assisting participants to access the community and to maintain or increase their independence… “

It appears that the NDIs has a rather interesting interpretation of this statement.

At present the only specific funding for transport in participants plans for community access is related to the three levels of funding determined two of which are influenced by the hours of employment undertaken by participants.

During my sons last funding review, I was told that

• just because a provider can claim funding for an item it doesn’t mean that adequate funding will be provided in a plan for that specific item .and
• if the level of funding available under the existing 3 category arrangement was inadequate that was a matter that I need to negotiate with my providers.

This latter view is supported by comment in the example of provider travel on page 21 of the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Pricing Limits 2021-22 in which it is stated in the 2nd paragraph “The provider and participant have agreed an hourly rate of $A50 below which is below the price limit for this item .”

I found that providers weren’t interested in negotiating a lower labour rate when a support worker drove my son to an activity in a car.

As an example, a support worker takes my son once a fortnight to physiotherapy, a return journey of. 44 kms. He spends 25 minutes each way and stays with him for 1 hour. The labour component is 1 hour 50 minutes at an hourly rate $59.67. The tavel component is 44lk at 78c a kilometre costing $34.32. Unless I can negotiate a reduction of $18.75 ($34.32/1.83) an hour there is still an additional annual cost to be met from somewhere in my sons Plan of $892.32 for kilometres travelled.

The choices are, where there is inadequate funding under the three-category arrangement, to

• Undertake the activity myself;
• Diverting funding from other NDIS approved Core activities
• Undertake the activity and if all the NDIS funds are used up seek a review; or
• Provide a buffer for likely unfunded travel costs by overstating other needs.

Both these latter two options are nor without cost to the NDIS.

I would prefer to see the three-category system abolished and support for provider travel included in plans where it can be shown to be reasonable and necessary.

• Secondly, I am concerned that the there is no longer supplementary funding provided to participants to compensate for funding increases to providers during the course of a participant’s Plan, especially as a result of the annual review. . This is having a greater impact now that the NDIS is moving to 3-year plans and the rate of inflation moves upward.

Submitted by:

James Collins 84 yr. old father of