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

Submission 152

To whom it may concern

As a father and self manager of my son’s NDIS funding, I would like the legislators to consider

Cancellation fees.

If I cancel within 48 hours I am charged full fee however service providers can and do cancel within an hour and no penalty even though a change in routine severely impacts my son’s behaviour. Solution = make a refund rate if cancellation is inside 12hrs

Increases.

Service providers are increasing fees every year even though every year there have not been COVID type circumstances that raised costs, solution = amke service providers make submissions justifying increases.

Local area coordinators.

Are they worth the money spent? My experience suggests strongly- NO solution = phase them out

Overcharging.

Service providers charge not just excessive rates but time blocks. If a service provider makes a ONE minute phone call they charge a minimum 15 minutes solution = allow billing of real time not blocks AND/OR stipulate no charges can be made for under 3 minutes of service. Less than 3 is complimentary

Accreditation.

My understanding is that excluding specialist behaviour accreditation for chemical restraint etc nobody is required to have accreditation to work and receive NDIS funds. This has resulted in widespread rorting but also poor standards of service. solution = teaching industry is now accredited. Similar could be used for NDIS. At the very least a training module like every NSW HSC student tkes for plagiarism.

Please consider my concerns,