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

Submission 80

Dear Committee,

I would like to share my perspective as someone who has worked with people with complex disabilities who have been involved in the NDIS process since it launched in my area. I have a Master of Science in the area of disability support and also worked as a support coordinator for people with disability.

These are my concerns with this bill:

• Firstly, there is no detail on how assessments will be conducted or what criteria they will use to determine eligibility. This lack of clarity raises serious questions about the fairness and accuracy of the assessment process.
• Secondly, there is a contradiction within the bill which states that only impairments meeting disability access criteria will receive funding (s34 1 aa), and elsewhere which allows for other impairments to be assessed. This inconsistency creates confusion and uncertainty about how the system will function.

I am particularly worried that this bill does not provide a right of review for assessment decisions, only allowing for a request of a replacement assessor which can be refused. Without an independent oversight mechanism in place, there is no way to ensure that assessments are conducted fairly or accurately. This lack of accountability undermines the integrity of the entire system and puts vulnerable individuals at risk from arbitrary decisions, discrimination or bias.

I urge you to take these concerns seriously and make changes to the bill that will ensure a fair, transparent, and accountable system for assessing eligibility under the NDIS. Thank you for your attention to this vital matter.

Cynthia Teo M.Sc