NDIA Accountability Project

potential service disruptions and financial vulnerabilities for participants

‹ PrevPage 1 of 2 · Source p. 1Next ›

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

Submission 178

Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Committee Members,

I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed changes to the NDIS Bill, which could significantly impact NDIS participants and the broader disability community.

Key Concerns:

  • Stated Supports and Classes:

    • Current individual assessments and support based on specific needs may be replaced by categorising participants into classes with restricted support options.
    • This approach risks limiting participant choice and control, potentially reducing individualised support, and increasing complexity in accessing necessary services.
    • Lack of clarity on what will be considered a support, and the proposal to allocate funding budgets rather than specific supports, may not adequately address individual needs.

  • Needs Assessment (Section 32H):

    • The proposed Needs Assessment process is vague, lacking details on assessor qualifications, assessment tools, and the consideration of secondary disabilities.
    • Concerns about the potential use of algorithms in decision-making without adequate oversight or appeal processes.

  • Revocation of Supports:

    • The process for revoking supports is unclear, with potential delays in communication and decisions leading to service disruptions and financial vulnerabilities for participants.
    • The proposed timeframes for revocation and new plans are insufficient, risking inappropriate assessments and further impacting participants.

  • Debts/Cancelled Claims/Review Rights:

    • Easier to incur debts from non-compliant spending than to review needs and assessments.
    • The single disability framework overlooks additional diagnoses, limiting fair evaluations and transparency.

  • Co-Design with Disability Community:

    • The legislation should mandate co-design with the disability community to ensure that the NDIS framework supports and empowers disabled Australians, rather than being shaped solely by policy makers with no lived experience of disability.

Conclusion:

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

Submission 178

The proposed changes risk creating a system that prioritises cost-saving over necessary support, potentially infringing on human rights and reducing self-determination for disabled individuals.

I urge the Committee to reconsider these changes and consult with the disability community to develop an effective and equitable NDIS framework.

Yours Sincerely,