Alice’s Adventures in NDIS-Land

A Submission to the NDIS Amendment Bill

Inquiry by the Bolshy Divas, June 2024

Chapter 1: ‘We Need More Than a Shared Vision’

Alice was an ordinary girl. She just happened to have a disability, which meant that she needed more help than other Australians.

She had watched the changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme over the years with rising disquiet, until one day, she found out that they had planned to cut the NDIS back to a shadow of its former self.

‘Nobody would accept these cuts to Medicare,’ she thought. ‘These changes make a mockery of what was originally intended – a federal NDIS for all Australians.’

Alice was sad. Her friend and mentor, John Walsh, one of the Productivity Commissioners who had originally envisioned the NDIS, had died. She remembered what he had said, way back in the beginning.

‘‘We need more than a shared vision,’ John had told Australia in a speech to the nation. He, like all disabled Australians, knew we needed true disability reform.

‘Yet here we are, twelve years later,’ she said out loud.

Her support worker was late again. With the sun on her face, she fell into a deep sleep…

…and dreamed herself falling down into the rabbit-hole of NDIS reform.

Chapter 2: Down the Rabbit Hole

“OH DEAR! OH DEAR! I SHALL BE LATE!” – THE WHITE RABBIT

Alice knew she was dreaming. But things had been quite peculiar of late for disabled women and girls, who didn’t seem to be part of the national conversation about safety and equality. The stories from the Disability Royal Commission seemed to have gone unheard, despite horrific stories about rapes, deaths from neglect and lack of support. In fact, the only response from government was to announce that they were cutting the NDIS to save money.

So she wasn’t entirely surprised when a giant White Rabbit came currying past, glaring at an outsized fob watch and muttering, ‘Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!’

Curiosity piqued, Alice called out, ‘Excuse me, Mr Rabbit! What are you late for?’

The harried rabbit glanced at his pocket watch and replied, “No time to explain! I’m late for a crucial meeting about the proposed NDIS changes. And I can’t explain – it’s SECRET! Didn’t you hear that we’ve made all the disability organisations sign non-disclosure agreements?”

With that, he vanished down a rabbit hole.

Alice, determined to understand the rabbit’s cryptic words, plunged into the hole after him. As she tumbled through the darkness, snippets of conversations echoed around her: “Tightening eligibility criteria,”,“Slashing funding,” “Undermining disability rights.” The voices grew louder, and Alice’s heart raced with each revelation.

Chapter 2: The Pool of Tears

Come, there's no use in crying like that!' said Alice to herself, rather sharply; I advise you to leave off this minute!’

But it's no use now,' thought poor Alice, to pretend to be two people! Why, there’s hardly enough of me left to make ONE respectable person!’

‘This is most definitely a dream,’ Alice thought.

She’d fallen into a little room, with little doors and a table with a cake in a box marked ‘Eat Me’, a tiny bottle labelled ‘Drink Me’ and a gold key.

Disabled young women are compliant young women and Alice did what she was told.

‘It’s odd, though,’ she thought. ‘That the government will give me support to, say, have a child, and pay for their education and health and for me to have leave – rights we fought for as women. Childless people pay for those costs through tax, just like we do for people with cancer – and the NDIS. Why is the NDIS so controversial and constantly under threat?’

Nevertheless, she set out eating the little cake. Years of filling out government forms meant that she rarely questioned what was asked of her.

As she rapidly grew, then shrank, she thought about how disorienting these constant changes were.

‘One minute you are not considered big enough to reach the services you need, the next you are having them cut because you’re just too much – I do wish they’d make their minds up!’ she thought.

Frustrated and overwhelmed, Alice burst into tears. As her sobs echoed through the room, her tears formed a shimmering pool around her. “I wish I hadn’t cried so much,” she lamented, realising that her distress stemmed from the fear of losing the essential supports she relied on. For some disabled women, their lives had been not only changed by the NDIS, but they had been kept safe – leaving abusive husbands who formerly were their carers, for example. The prospect of returning to the bad old times, including abuse, was intolerable.

The proposed changes to NDIS access, eligibility, and funding had thrown Alice’s life into turmoil, and she felt helpless against the rising tide of uncertainty.

Chapter 3: A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale

As Alice’s tears subsided, she found herself swimming in a pool alongside a motley crew of creatures, all drenched and disoriented. The group, much like the disability community, was diverse and united by their shared predicament.

‘They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the bank– The birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and uncomfortable.

The first question of course was, how to get dry again: they had a consultation about this, and after a few minutes it seemed quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with them, as if she had known them all her life.

At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of authority among them, called out, “Sit down, all of you, and listen to me! I’LL soon make you dry enough!’ They all sat down at once, in a large ring, with the Mouse in the middle. Alice kept her eyes anxiously fixed on it, for she felt sure she would catch a bad cold if she did not get dry very soon.

“Ahem!” said the Mouse with an important air, “are you all ready? This is the driest thing I know.

Silence all round, if you please!” And with that, she proceeded to read the eleventy billionth amendment to the NDIS Amendment Bill.

“Ugh!” said the Lory, with a shiver.

“I beg your pardon!” said the Mouse, frowning, but very politely: “Did you speak?”

“Not I!” said the Lory hastily.

Alice sighed. ‘Disabled people don’t really understand this complex type of legislation. We need an exposure draft, at the very least. They did it for aged care – why couldn’t they do it for us?’

The Lory nodded. ‘And why did they drop the significant changes to the explanatory memo on the Bill on the very day that submissions closed? Even the peak bodies said they didn’t have time to consider it.’

Yes,' said the Mouse. –I proceed. “ Omit “reasonable and necessary supports”, substitute “supports (other 10 than general supports)“. 11 6 Section 9 12 Insert: 13 NDIS support, for a participant, has the meaning given by 14 subsections 10(1) and (4)…how are you getting on now, my dearest?’ it continued, turning to Alice as it spoke.

‘As wet as ever,’ said Alice in a melancholy tone: ‘it doesn’t seem to dry me at all.’

‘In that case,’ said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, ‘I move that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more energetic remedies–’

‘Speak English!’ said the Eaglet. ‘I don’t know the meaning of half those long words and, what’s more, I don’t believe you do either!’ And the Eaglet bent down its head to hide a smile: some of the other birds tittered audibly.

‘They want to get rid of reasonable and necessary supports and individualised funding,’ Alice explained helpfully. ‘So that the few that do get support will get either a bit of housework and gardening, but nothing really individualised, and the rest will get stated supports from big providers who are now on some kind of aids and equipment panel – you

know, like the old systems – it will narrow and decrease our funding options, as well as our lives.’

One of the Black Swans turned white, then shuddered with cold.

The Dodo, a pompous bird with an air of authority, noticed. ’I propose a Caucus-Race to dry off!’ he declared.

“The best way to explain it is to do it!” The animals began running in circles with no clear start or finish line.

Alice, perplexed by the absurdity of the race, thought to herself, “This is just like the NDIS reform process – a lot of frantic activity, staged propaganda, bad consultations and bureaucracy, but no real progress for disability rights for the people who need it most.”

“It’s all about aligning the aged care, disability and veterans sectors – and cost cutting. Despite the fact that it is also cutting our lives – or cutting them short. Why is this okay?”

As the race concluded with no clear winner, the Dodo insisted that everyone must have prizes. Alice, tasked with handing out the rewards, found herself reaching into her own pocket to provide them. “It’s a fitting metaphor,” she mused out loud.

“The new system proposes that some people will be given support, with extra red tape, cuts and stringent restrictions, and the rest will be thrown on the mercy of non-existent ‘foundational supports’ from the States and Territories.”

“Which don’t exist,” piped up a small Bandicoot. “We are expected to bear the cost and responsibility for a system that fails to properly support us. In a housing crisis. In a time where there are unparalleled cost of living pressures. Despite our increased costs of living.

Page 9

Exhausted from the race, the animals gathered around the Mouse, who had promised to tell them her ‘long and sad tale.’ But the Mouse’s story was constantly interrupted by the other creatures’ chatter.

Let it speak! shouted the Lory.

` I fought for an NDIS so I wouldn’t have to run from cats, And so I could live free and equal. But now I am in danger of being trapped again. “Let us cut the funds: I will take your supports, you. –Come,

I’ll take no appeal; We must save some money: For really this scheme is too much.“\nSaid the mouse to the NDIA, such a cut, dear Agency, With no plan or fairness, would be isking ourreathe.”\nWe’ll be judge, we’ll be jury,“\nSaid cunning old NDIA: We’ll

try
the
whole
cause,
and
condemn
you
to
death."`

Alice empathised with the Mouse. It’s like the Disability Royal Commission, she thought. They didn’t hear a word, clearly. And they haven’t even given us a response. Our voices are being drowned out by those with factional loyalties or who have funding – and those who are afraid to speak up, or who just can’t bear to, are absent altogether.

As the Mouse’s tale came to an abrupt end, Alice reflected on the importance of actually listening to disabled people rather than non- disabled representatives and those with fiscal and other conflicts.

“If only those in power would take the time to truly hear our stories,” she thought, “perhaps then they would understand the real-life implications of their decisions and the urgency of protecting our rights.”

Chapter 4: Advice from a Caterpillar

Alice, seeking guidance, approached a hookah-smoking Caterpillar perched atop a mushroom. The Caterpillar was blowing smoke rings and appeared quite meditative.

“Who are you?” the Caterpillar asked, peering down at her.

Alice replied, “I—i hardly know, sir, just at present—at least i know who i was when i got up this morning, but i think i must have been changed several times since then.”

“What do you mean by that?” said the Caterpillar sternly. “Explain\nyourself!”

“I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly,” Alice said very politely, “because I\ncan’t understand it myself to begin with. You see, the NDIS changes\nhave me questioning my very identity and the supports that define my\nlife.”

“NDIS? What’s that?” the Caterpillar asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Alice explained. “They’re\nmaking everything very confusing with new rules about what supports\nis covered. They want to use something called APTOS principles,\nwhich were only meant to be guidelines, and now they want to make\nthem into laws without asking anyone what they think.”

The Caterpillar took a long draw from his hookah and exhaled a cloud of\nsmoke. “Guidelines? Laws? What’s the difference?”

“Well,” said Alice, “a guideline is like a suggestion, something to help\npersons make decisions. But a law is a rule that everyone must follow.\nThey’re putting these guidelines into law without proper consultation,\nand it gives the NDIA—the people who run the NDIS—too much power.”

“Too much power?” repeated the Caterpillar. “What sort of power?”

“They can ask for all sorts of information and even stop persons from\ngetting support if they don’t provide it quickly enough,” said Alice. “It\nseems very unfair, especially to those who might have trouble gathering\nal that information.”

“Ah, unchecked powers,” said the Caterpillar, nodding wisely. “That does\not sound fair at all.”,

“And,” continued Alice, “the new definition of ‘NDIS supports’ might leave out important services that people need to live independently. It should help people join in the community, just like the UNCRPD says.”

“UNCRPD?” the Caterpillar queried.

It’s the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,“ explained Alice. “It says people with disabilities should be able to live independently and be included in the community. The NDIS should follow this, but the changes might not.”

The Caterpillar looked thoughtful. “And what about these assessments you mentioned?”

Alice sighed. “The new way they want to do assessments doesn’t look at the whole person. It only looks at parts of their disability, not how they live every day. This means they might not get the support they really need.”

“That seems a very narrow view,” said the Caterpillar.

“Exactly,” Alice agreed. “And there’s also the issue of debt recovery. The NDIA can make people pay back money if they think it was used wrongly, even if it was just a mistake. This approach is very harsh and doesn’t help people learn how to use their support properly.”

“Debt recovery, eh? That’s a bit harsh,” the Caterpillar murmured.

“Yes,” said Alice. “And there are many important details left to new rules that haven’t even been written yet. These rules should be made with people with disabilities, but the Bill doesn’t say this will happen.”

“A lack of oversight,” the Caterpillar remarked. “Transparency and accountability are crucial.”

“And there’s a risk of pushing people into segregated settings,” Alice added. “This means they might be kept separate from the rest of the community to save money, which is against what the UNCRPD says.”

The Caterpillar frowned deeply. “Segregation. That would be a step backward.”

“And finally,” Alice said, “the changes limit how people can appeal decisions. Everyone should have the right to challenge decisions that affect their lives, but the new rules make this harder.”

The Caterpillar took one last draw from his hookah and exhaled a final cloud of smoke. “It seems, Alice, that the NDIS reforms are indeed fraught with issues. A comprehensive and holistic approach is necessary to ensure the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities.”

Alice felt a sense of relief at having articulated her concerns. “Thank you, Caterpillar,” she said. “I will continue to advocate for the rights of my fellow participants and fight for a system that truly upholds the principles of the UNCRPD.”

The Caterpillar nodded. “Yes.’

Chapter 5: A Mad Tea-Party

Alice stumbled upon a peculiar tea party attended by the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse. The table was set under a tree, with the Hatter and the Hare using a dormouse as a cushion, trying to stuff it into a teapot.

“Have some tea,” the Hatter said in an encouraging tone.

“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied indignantly, “so I can’t take more.”

“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”

Alice did not see how this could be true, but said nothing.

The chaotic and nonsensical nature of the gathering served reminded Alice about the inadequate support for psychosocial disability and the unspoken proposal to throw them off the NDS. A peak body provider – the peak of peaks, who also provided services – had been given a large amount of money in the recent Budget. Coincidentally, they had also scoped the mental health and disability sector prior to the Review in yet another secret report.

And the biggest Dormouse in the room was the issue that everyone knew about - the ineffective, crumbling mental health sector did not work for people with psychosocial disability, who often needed disability care and support every day. They have issues that won’t be solved with peer groups and endless cups of tea.

“What day of the month is it?” the Hatter asked, turning to Alice. He had taken a large copy of the NDIS Review out of his pocket and was looking at it uneasily, shaking it every now and then, and holding it to his ear.

Alice considered a little, and then said, “The Seventeeth.”

“Two days wrong!” sighed the Hatter. “I told you butter wouldn’t grease the NDIS process!” he added, looking angrily at the March Hare.

“It was the best butter,” the March Hare meekly replied.

Alice sighed. “The proposed changes to the NDS do little to address the unique needs of participants with psychosocial disability. The lack of tailored services and insufficient integration with the mental health system leaves us struggling to achieve our goals and live fulfilling lives.”

The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was, “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?”

“Come, we shall have some fun now!” thought Alice. “I’m glad they’ve begun asking riddles. I believe I can guess that,” she added aloud.

“Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?” said the March Hare.

“Exactly so,” said Alice.

“Then you should say what you mean,” the March Hare went on.

“I do,” Alice hastily replied; “at least—at least I mean what I say—that’s the same thing, you know.”

“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “You might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’!”

“You might just as well say,” added the March Hare, “that ‘I like what I get’ is the same thing as ‘I get what I like’!”

“You might as well say,” said the Hatter, “that the 2016 NDIS is the same as the proposed NDIS!’

“You might just as well say,” added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, “that ‘I breathe when I sleep’ is the same thing as ‘I sleep when I breathe’!”

“It IS the same thing with you,” said the Hatter, and here the conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a minute, while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and writing-desks, which wasn’t much.

The Hatter was the first to break the silence. “What are you thinking about?” he said, looking at Alice. “You must be thinking about something, or else you wouldn’t be frowning so.”

“I’m trying to solve the riddle,” Alice said, “and I haven’t got a clue.”

“Have you guessed the riddle yet?” the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.

“No, I give it up,” Alice replied. “What’s the answer?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Hatter.

“Nor I,” said the March Hare.

Alice sighed wearily. “It’s a mad, mad world, indeed! Participants with complex needs continue to face fragmented care and disjointed services. The amendments fail to provide the holistic approach we so desperately need. And there’s still no word on foundational supports – other than the endless cups of tea.”

“Exactly so,” said the Hatter, “and I think you might do something better with the time,” he said, “than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers.”

The Dormouse, stirring from its slumber, mumbled, “Without adequate support, we’re left to navigate a labyrinth of confusion and isolation. The system fails to recognize the interconnectedness of our physical and mental well-being.”

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Chapter 6: The Queen’s Croquet-Ground

Alice found herself in the Queen’s croquet-ground, where the tyrannical Queen of Hearts presided over a chaotic game. The Queen, symbolising the NDIA, displayed a callous disregard for the rights and needs of participants.

“Off with their funding!” the Queen declared, her face flushed with anger. “I have no patience for the so-called ‘rights’ of people with disability.”

Alice, handed a flamingo for a mallet and hedgehogs for balls, struggled to navigate the absurd and ever-changing rules of the game. The croquet-ground served as a metaphor for the complex and inconsistent eligibility criteria within the NDIS.

As Alice attempted to play, she found herself constantly thwarted by the Queen’s arbitrary decisions and the lack of clear guidelines. The flamingo and hedgehogs, representing the ill-suited tools and processes of the NDIS, made it nearly impossible for her to access the support she needed.

“How can anyone be expected to navigate this system effectively?” Alice wondered aloud, her frustration mounting with each failed attempt to comply with the Queen’s demands.

The Queen’s croquet-ground highlighted the urgent need for transparent and consistent eligibility criteria within the NDIS. Alice realised that the current system, with its complex pathways and inconsistent application, created significant barriers for individuals seeking access to vital supports.

“And then there’s the idea that ‘the NDIS is the only oasis in the desert’, she mused out loud. “Nobody is really raising the main issue here – that it’s still a desert. There was not even any funding in the Budget for those so called mainstream supports. Billions spent on disabled people stuck in hospitals in a housing crisis, including in mental health settings.”

“Who are you?” said the Queen, glaring at Alice.

“My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,” said Alice very politely; but she added, to herself, “Why, they’re only a pack of cards, after all. I needn’t be afraid of them!”

“And who are THESE?” said the Queen, pointing to the ten soldiers who were always with her.

“They’re only a pack of cards,” said Alice, “and I don’t think they can really be any harm.”

The soldiers were silent, and the Queen turned crimson with fury. “Off with her head!” she screamed. “Off–”

“Nonsense!” said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.

Chapter 7: Alice’s Evidence

In a sudden turn of events, Alice found herself called as a witness in the trial of the Knave of Hearts. The courtroom, a symbol of the flawed review and appeals processes within the NDIS, was filled with chaos and confusion.

“Consider your verdict,” the King said to the jury.

“Not yet, not yet!” the Rabbit hastily interrupted. “There’s a great deal to come before that!”

As Alice attempted to provide her testimony, the King and Queen continuously interrupted and dismissed her concerns. The lack of clear provisions for participants to challenge decisions and access effective review mechanisms was glaringly apparent.

“No, no!” said the Queen. “Sentence first—verdict afterwards.”

“Stuff and nonsense!” said Alice loudly. “The idea of having the sentence first!”

“Hold your tongue!” said the Queen, turning purple.

“I won’t!” said Alice.

“Off with her head!” the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved.

Alice protested, “But that’s not the way things should be done! Participants must have the right to appeal decisions and have their voices heard in a fair and transparent manner.”

The King and Queen paid no heed to Alice’s pleas, reflecting the inadequate safeguards and limited opportunities for participants to seek justice within the NDIS system.

“Call the next witness,” said the King.

The next witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other.

“You ought to have finished,” said the King. “When did you begin?”

The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm-in-arm with the Dormouse. “I think it was the fourth,” he said.

“Fifth,” said the March Hare.

“Sixth,” added the Dormouse.

“Write that down,” the King said to the jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates and then added them up and reduced the answer to shillings and pence.

“Take off your hat,” the King said to the Hatter.

“It isn’t mine,” said the Hatter.

“Stolen!” the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who instantly made a memorandum of the fact.

Alice realised that the trial, in its absurdity and lack of due process, mirrored the challenges faced by participants in navigating the review and appeals processes. The proposed changes failed to address these critical issues, leaving participants vulnerable to arbitrary decisions and without adequate recourse to challenge them.

Chapter 8: The Dream and The Awakening

As the chaos of the trial reached its climax, Alice found herself suddenly awakening from the strange dream of NDIS-land. The surreal experiences and characters she had encountered served as powerful allegories for the real-world challenges and shortcomings of the proposed NDIS reforms.

Alice sat up, her mind reeling with the insights gained from her journey. She realised that the NDIS, a system intended to provide reasonable and necessary care and support to people with disability, was at risk of becoming an unfair, unjust bureaucratic nightmare if the proposed changes were implemented without addressing the critical concerns raised by the disability community. A postcode lottery – a confusopoly, just like the one described in 2009 in the Shut Out report.

The selective application of UNCRPD principles, the lack of meaningful co-design, the inadequate support for psychosocial disability, and the complex eligibility criteria all threatened to undermine the very foundations of the NDIS. Alice knew that urgent action was needed to ensure that the scheme remained true to its original vision of providing choice, control, and dignity to people with a disability.

And upholding their rights – because Australia has an obligation to do this under the UNCRPD.

As the dream of NDIS-land faded, Alice embarked on a new journey. One to educate politicians that despite the White Rabbit’s intention to tap a wristwatch and send a little Bill into the House to change our lives, that

the rights and dignity of disabled people is never, ever up for negotiation.

Chapter 9.

Last word goes to The Chshire Cat. ‘Legislation without Rules is like a Smile without a Cat’.

Mad References

Commitment to Codesign:

“Well, now that we have seen each other,” said the Unicorn, “if you’ll believe in me, I’ll believe in you. Is that a bargain?” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.$$ (Through the Looking Glass)
“If everybody minded their own business,$$ the Duchess said in a hoarse growl, “$the world would go round a deal faster than it does.$$” (Alice in Wonderland)
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Needs Assessments:$

“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean— neither more nor less.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. (Alice in Wonderland)
“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” (Alice in Wonderland*)
“I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” (Alice in Wonderland*)

Reasonable and Necessary Budget and NDIS Supports:

Plan Budget Changes:

“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different\nperson then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“The more there is of mine, the less there is of yours.”, (Through the Looking Glass)
“Curiouser and curiouser!” cried Alice. (Alice in Wonderland)
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person\nthan.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“Why is it you’re always too small or too tall?” (Alice in\nWonderland)

Information Gathering Powers:

“Speak in French when you can’t think of the English for a thing.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go round\na deal faster than it does.” (Through the Looking Glass)

Challenges and Reviews:

“Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I don’t think…” then you shouldn’t talk,“ said the Hatter. (Through the Looking Glass)
“Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It’s all very well to say ‘drink me,’ but I’ll look first and see whether it’s marked ‘poison’ or not.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“I don’t think…” then you shouldn’t talk, said the Hatter. (Alice in Wonderland)
“It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Exclusion of Support Types:

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. (Alice in Wonderland)
“You used to be much more…muchier. You’ve lost your muchness.” (Alice in Wonderland)

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Six

“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Eight.

Five-Year Plans:

“The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!” (Alice in Wonderland)
“It’s always tea-time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“I knew who I was this morning, but I’ve changed a few times since then.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Nine.

Increased Powers of the NDIA:

“Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Well, now that we have seen each other,” said the Unicorn, “if you’ll believe in me, I’ll believe in you. Is that a bargain?” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said, “Consider, my dear: she is only a child!” (Alice in Wonderland)
“Who cares for you? You’re nothing but a pack of cards!” (Alice in Wonderland)
“If you don’t know where you are going any road can take you there.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Ten.

Selective Reference to the UNCRPD:

“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” (Through the Looking Glass)

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“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.”\n(Through the Looking Glass)\n“No, no! The adventures first,” said the Gryphon in an impatient tone: “explanations take such a dreadful time.” (Alice in Wonderland)\n“Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” (Alice in Wonderland)\n“I don’t see how he can ever finish, if he doesn’t begin.” (Alice in Wonderland)

APTOS Unsuitable for Determining NDIS Supports:\n 1. “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Through the Looking Glass)\n 2. “I mean, what is an un-birthday present?” (Through the Looking Glass)\n 3. “The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday—but never jam to-day.” (Through the Looking Glass)\n 4. “Well, I never heard it before,” said the Mock Turtle; “but it sounds uncommon nonsense.” (Alice in Wonderland)\n 5. “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” said his father; “don’t give yourself airs!” (Alice in Wonderland)\n 6. “It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” (Alice in Wonderland)
Delegated Legislation and Oversight:\n 1. “If everybody minded their own business, the world would go round a deal faster than it does.” (Through the Looking Glass)\n 2. “I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” (Through the Looking Glass)\n 3. “Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” (Through the Looking Glass)\n 4. “Off with her head!” the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved. (Alice in Wonderland)\n 5. “The Queen will hear you! You see, she came rather late, and the Queen said—” (Alice in Wonderland)

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“I don’t think…” then you shouldn’t talk, said the Hatter.“ (Alice in Wonderland)

Section 32L(3): Supports Framed by Goals and Aspirations:

“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. (Alice in Wonderland)
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Section 32C(c)(i): Five-Year Plan Review Periods:

“It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“The more there is of mine, the less there is of yours.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!” (Alice in Wonderland)
“It’s always tea-time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“I knew who I was this morning, but I’ve changed a few times since then.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Monitoring and Approval Processes: Ensuring Flexibility and Reducing Bureaucratic Constraints:

“Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” (Through the Looking Glass)

Information Gathering Powers: Limiting the Scope and Consequences, Ensuring Participant Control and Longer Compliance Timeframes:

“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go round a deal faster than it does.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Speak in French when you can’t think of the English for a thing.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said, “Consider, my dear: she is only a child!” (Alice in Wonderland)
“Who cares for you? You’re nothing but a pack of cards!” (Alice in Wonderland)
“If you don’t know where you are going any road can take you there.” (Alice in Wonderland)

Challenges and Reviews: Ensuring the Right to Appeal Needs Assessments and Review Processes:

“Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I don’t think…” then you shouldn’t talk,“ said the Hatter. (Through the Looking Glass)
“Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” (Through the Looking Glass)

Exclusion of Support Types

Real-World Testing and Flexible Definitions to Accommodate Diverse Needs:

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat. (Alice in Wonderland)
“You used to be much more…muchier. You’ve lost your muchness.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” (Alice in Wonderland)

UNCRPD Incorporation

Comprehensive and Holistic Application of UNCRPD Principles:

“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.” (Through the Looking Glass)
“No, no! The adventures first,” said the Gryphon in an impatient tone: “explanations take such a dreadful time.” (Alice in Wonderland)
“Sentence first—verdict afterwards.” (Alice in Wonderland)

“I don’t see how he can ever finish, if he doesn’t begin.” (Alice in Wonderlond)