NDIS Independent Assessments Submission

I am a 29 year old women and have been a NDIS participant since NDIS rolled out in my rural area in 2018. My disability is psychosocial and has been present for many years prior to NDIS during which time I struggled to get the support I require. When NDIS was brought in I felt like I may actually be able to access the support I need, however the introduction of independent assessments will make the support I require extremely difficult (likely impossible) to access. Each plan review I have had while on NDIS has been an extremely stressful process and very difficult to manage but I have felt like because my professional team knows me well and understands what support I require then I am able to go through the plan review with their supporting letters and assessments even though it causes a lot of distress and deterioration. However even just the knowledge that NDIA are planning on introducing independent assessments has already caused extreme levels of distress and I do not know how I would actually be able to complete an independent assessment. I strongly urge you to stop the implementation of NDIS independent assessments as they are harmful and dangerous.

• NDIA say that the assessment tools are complex and vary – which is true – but they also indicate that the assessment tools are standardised and that this is appropriate – which is not true.

    f.  the implications of independent assessments for access to and eligibility
    for the NDIS;
  

The independent assessments will mean many people who require NDIS support will not be accepted as independent assessments will not provide an accurate picture of a person’s disability and functional capacity.

   g. the implications of independent assessments for NDIS planning,
    including decisions related to funding reasonable and necessary
   supports;

Independent assessments will not give an accurate picture of a person with a disability’s functional capacity (particularly those with a psychosocial disability) and therefore there will be many participants with severely inadequate supports. This will cause a large number of participants to lose their quality of life and for some they may even lose their life.

   h. the circumstances in which a person may not be required to complete an
     independent assessment;

No one should have to complete an independent assessment unless they want to. —

If independent assessments are brought in (which I strongly believe would be extremely dangerous and harmful), those with psychosocial disabilities (particularly those with anxiety) should absolutely be exempt from independent assessments as they will not provide an accurate picture of their functional capacity and will cause more trauma, distress and exacerbate their disability which would further decrease their functional capacity.

       i.  opportunities to review or challenge the outcomes of independent
     assessments;

If independent assessments are brought in (which I strongly believe would be extremely dangerous and harmful) there absolutely must be a number of opportunities to challenge the outcome including with evidence of functional capacity from professionals of the participant’s choice and who know the participant well.

       j.  the appropriateness of independent assessments for particular cohorts of
     people with disability, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
      peoples, people from regional, rural and remote areas, and people from
      culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;

NDIA believing there is choice in appropriate assessors (or even providers) is harmful and shows a complete lack of understanding of what people with disabilities in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia experience.

The idea that there will be enough professionals who are adequately trained and experienced is inaccurate across the whole of Australia, however it is extremely inaccurate in regard to those in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia as we already struggle a great deal to find adequate support professionals and when you do find someone there is often extremely long waiting lists or they are not accepting anyone else at the time.

    k.  the appropriateness of independent assessments for people with
      particular disability types, including psychosocial disability; and

As I have stated previously it is extremely inappropriate for those with psychosocial disabilities to undergo independent assessments and will actually be harmful and dangerous for those participants.

Psychosocial disabilities are complex and often it takes engaging a large number of professionals to get a diagnosis and to find appropriate support, there is no evidence from NDIA that a single visit from an independent assessor will be able to address this complexity – because it won’t.

Psychosocial disabilities are not consistent and therefore NDIA striving to achieve consistency across plans is extremely concerning and likely detrimental to participants.

       l.  any other related matters

Reviews/assessments for those with psychosocial disabilities need to be spread apart by 2 years minimum as psychosocial disabilities fluctuate greatly and while one may need less support for a couple of months, they then are likely to have a significant change in functional ability (which is in the nature of psychosocial disabilities) and need far more support. A longer plan length means participants can engage with more or less support when they need it and have more choice and control on how they use their support funding. Having longer plans also means the trauma and distress of a plan review (or independent assessment) is not occurring as often and therefore not contributing to as much of a decline in functional capacity.

I stress again that the implementation of NDIS is dangerous and harmful to participants and will cause a significant decline in quality of life and functional capacity. Please stop these independent assessments.