National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 [Provisions]

Submission 190

NDIS Reform Bill

To whom it may concern

We, the board at Sporting Dreams Queensland Inc, oppose the NDIS “getting back on track” Bill (one) along with amendments and explanatory memorandum at this point in time.

We are an organisation in Queensland formed with the motto “Changing lives through sport for athletes with disabilities.” Since 2008 one of the things we’ve learned is that far more than just funding the power of bringing together people with their peers, to learn how to do life, as well as funding gaps and celebrating achievements, has been making a difference to these athletes through participation in sport, and how to do life as a disabled person, leading to a vital peer support group.

Our board is made up of disabled people and one parent/carer, so we all understand life with disability and part of this system our lives will be impacted along with our members. We have concerns this Bill will prevent our members being able to participate in sport, as well as Sporting Dreams activities to the extent which is recommended by the physiotherapist, or to their desire.

The NDIS review has been extensively consulted on by the disability community until those changes have been implemented. It’s very hard to see what legislative changes will be needed.

Concerns include but are not limited to

• Participants facing debt for in good faith purchasing items that related to their disability
• This bill puts people with high support needs in danger if they are removed from self managed to agency managed and have to try out of the blue find all new supports for basic essentials such as breathing with a ventilator, using the toilet, bathing, and getting dressed.
• The original principle of the NDIS was person-centred which positions the disabled person as a consumer with buying power who could take the

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDI Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 [Provisions]

Submission 190

money and spend it elsewhere if they are not receiving the service they need. Removing the concept of necessary and replacing it with a list of stated NDIS support takes away the creative flexibility. Flexibility within a budget is good. The inability to challenge the total amount provided is of great concern to disabled people because it’s requesting to give up things such as sport and social participation activities to use that money on care because the pot is only so big and you can no longer appeal the things within the pot, only the size of the pot of money.

• The tools and instruments mentioned in the act have not yet been designed including a needs assessment, which cannot be challenged, and assessment which determines your funding which does not exist nor does the process for how that assessment spits out funding. Currently participants are able to have access to their own therapist who understands their good days and bad days and how many hours of different supports are needed and it’s calculated by line.
• We ask for an extension of the inquiry in the Senate as well as an extension for submissions as a large number of organisations provided information which is since changed in the exploratory memorandum

Due to the potential for harm it could lead to, including death, for participants of the scheme, Sporting Dreams Queensland Inc. cannot support the NDI Reform Bill in its current form.

Kind regards, Peter Lane-Collett Treasure of Sporting Dreams Queensland Inc on behalf of the board

Peter Lane-Collett Treasurer, Sporting Dreams Queensland Inc

Website www.sportingdreams.org.au l Ph 0412 751 407 l email info@sportingdreams.org.au ABN: 43 109 461 279 Incorporation Number: IA55576 0 www.facebook.com/sportingdreams Twitter.com/sportingdreams1