National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024
Submission 270
To Whom It May Concern,
BELATED SUBMISSION – BUT URGENT CALL FOR ACTION
I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent decisions made by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that has adversely affected the life of my sister in law, an extremely vulnerable member of our community. After our recent plan review it has come to my attention that funding cuts have placed my sister in law in a dire situation where she will be confined to her bed for 11 hours a day without any support. This decision not only neglects her basic personal care needs but also instills a genuine fear for her well-being, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
It is disheartening to learn that the NDIS, a scheme designed to empower and support individuals with disabilities, is making choices that will lead to poor outcomes for the participants it is meant to serve. The impact of these cuts will force individuals back into the health system or nursing homes, environments from which they have fought hard to transition into their own homes with appropriate supports.
Furthermore, it is appalling that the NDIS is targeting the funding of those it was established to protect, rather than addressing the criminal activities that exploit these individuals. The scheme’s focus should be on safeguarding its participants and ensuring they have the resources needed to lead dignified lives, rather than making cuts that undermine their independence and quality of life.
I urge the NDIS to reconsider its approach and prioritise the needs of its participants. It is crucial that we, as a society, stand against decisions that marginalise the vulnerable and work together to uphold the values of inclusivity and support that the NDIS was founded upon.
As a legal guardian with a wonderful provider of supports, I am afraid that these funding cuts will drive the honest and trustworthy provides to close their doors as they are confronted with the challenge of finding ways to offer safe, quality care amidst significant funding cuts each year. The current situation is untenable, and like many other providers in our community, they are on the brink of being unable to sustain their operations. It is a heartbreaking reality, especially considering the arduous journey our coordinator of supports and our family have undergone to remove my sister in law from a dementia ward of a nursing home where they suffered abuse, received no therapy support, and were confined to their room for their safety. And no she does not have dementia. After years of advocacy, we were able to move her into her own home, choose her support team, and start living a full life within a community they had never known. If this decision is not reversed, we stand to lose everything, and those who love and care for them will be forced to witness their regression to a mere existence. The NDIS’s decision threatens to strip us of this newfound independence, forcing them back into a system that failed to protect them and disregarded her autonomy.
My Sister in Laws story is a testament to the transformative power of proper support and the
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024
Submission 270
devastating impact of its removal. It is a stark reminder of the NDIS’s responsibility to uphold the dignity and well-being of its participants. To reverse this decision is not merely an administrative adjustment; it is a moral imperative to prevent the regression of an individual’s hard-won quality of life.
It clearly states on the front of the Introductory letter that the plan was developed using information about her disability, that it was developed so that she receives the right supports to help pursue her goals, that she was given choice and control for assistance with daily life, assistance with social, economic and community participation, improved daily living skills, and given SDA. How is this possible to state when for 11 hours a day my sister in law will have no supports in the home to assist someone who has no ability to care for herself, not only does this leave her vulnerable overnight but during the day as well. Who will feed her? Who will reposition her? Who will administer the necessary medication for her to stay alive? Who will give her, her basic human rights when she is unable to do so herself.
To exacerbate the already distressing situation, my sister-in-laws’ plan was set to expire in September. However, a review conducted a few weeks ago resulted in the receipt of a significantly reduced plan today, which, to our dismay, commenced yesterday. This abrupt change was made without any communication from the NDIS, leaving no time for the family and its provider to strategise on how to continue delivering the necessary supports. This lack of transparency and consideration is yet another example of the NDIS’s deplorable conduct.
The NDIS must be held accountable for its actions, which are in direct contradiction to the principles of support and empowerment it purports to uphold. It is imperative that the NDIS re-evaluates its priorities and ensures that its participants are not just numbers on a spreadsheet but individuals whose lives and well-being are profoundly affected by its decisions.
In addition to the concerns expressed, it is imperative to highlight the stark contrast between the struggles faced by this NDIS participant and the conditions enjoyed by the scheme’s delegates. While the participant, their family, and their provider tirelessly fight to overturn the decision that drastically slashed the participant’s funding, NDIS delegates are situated in a newly built state-of-the-art tower in Deakin. This building casts a long shadow, both literally and metaphorically, on the streets below.
It is a bitter irony that as these delegates benefit from their new coffee machines and safe workstations, the participant in question is engaged in a daily battle to remain in their own home and have her basic needs met. The contrast of such luxury against the dire needs of the vulnerable cannot be overlooked or understated.
This situation raises serious questions about the priorities and values of the NDIS. It is a call to action for the delegates and decision-makers to reflect on the human impact of their administrative choices. The comfort of a new office should never overshadow the essential support required by the individuals the NDIS was created to serve.