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

Submission 138

Submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the

NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Name: Dr Maggie Broom

I am a friend of an NDIS participant as well as being a therapist offering animal- assisted psychotherapy sessions to both private clients and NDIS participants.

I want to respond to the proposed changes to the NDIS Bill.

I agree that the NDIS is in dire need of changes that will exclude funding of questionable activities such as most of those detailed by Minister Bill Shorten in Parliament (strata fees, fines, steam rooms, gambling, legal cannabis, cruises, trips to Japan and others, such as crystal therapy and tarot).

However, where he mentions ‘non-assistance animals’, I take that to mean the purchase and maintenance of animals by NDIS participants, not the accessing of animal-assisted therapies such as those provided by Riding for the Disabled and other well-qualified and evidence-based services such as those offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning.

It would be a grave mistake to outlaw access to the therapeutic benefit that structured activities with animals has on people with disabilities. While I agree that purchase and maintenance of animals other than trained and qualified assistance animals should not be an NDIS responsibility, therapeutic services most definitely should.

I hope the Committee will take all submissions seriously in preparing its report.

Dr D M Broom