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

Submission 224

Being part of the Disabled Community is not something we would choose, and we are grateful that having the support of the NDIS has made life livable, and allowed us to stay connected with family and community.

However, we are very concerned with the NDIS Bill that co-design has not been made a legal requirement. 4(9A) Disabled people need to have a voice in designing anything that decides how needs assessments will be conducted and the method by which participants’ budgets will be calculated. While Ministers and Governments may try to listen carefully, they actually have no idea what it’s like to live a life of 24 hour a day disability, and the myriad of problems even with functioning equipment that have to be sorted daily, weekly and yearly - which all cost money. Before being disabled, we had NO idea of how hard it is. You can only know when you have to experience this existence, so PLEASE legislate for co-design.

Also, there are so many opinions amongst able-bodied people on how needs assessments should be conducted, it will never be fair unless disabled people have a right through legislation to be consulted and take part in designing the way it is carried out. Are all ministers experts in the disability field? No. Also, as we know, Governments change, and their priorities change, even within governments. Ministers change within a term. So without legislating the right to have a part in co-design, it will spell disaster for disabled people.

Furthermore, it is imperative that the amendment to ensure transparency regarding what consultation has taken place with the disability community is voted in. Disabled people have to justify where every cent needs to be spent, but Ministers also need to account for their actions.

We are very concerned about the Bill not taking a whole person approach - many disabled people have interrelated, multiple disabilities which could lead to inadequate support being able to be provided, particularly in the area of personal cares and behaviour management. In our home, even being able to get out of bed, to go to the toilet twice a day, to have a shower and to get into a wheelchair are dependent on having support workers who can assist with that, but then the behaviour management required whilst that is happening requires an extra level of skill. They are all things able-bodied people take for granted - like we did a lifetime ago - but because of interrelated disabilities every aspect of life is complicated, not just the physical.

The Bill also lacks a clear pathway to appeal/review/replace the needs assessments once they are done. The NDIA will have wide powers to require whatever medical assessments they decide an individual should have - no matter if they are invasive,

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

Submission 224

expensive, difficult to obtain or distressing. Surely disabled people should have a right to appeal and replace such assessments on Human Rights grounds.

We implore everyone in Parliament to just have a moment to think before voting on each section: “If I was disabled, would I feel this was the best/fairest way for Australia to support disabled people and the CRPD, or is there a better way?”. Please, walk a mile in our shoes before voting.

Sincere Regards Brian and Robyn Radcliffe