The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia

Standing Committee on Community Affairs

Legislation Committee

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment\n(Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other\nMeasures) Bill 2017

Prepared by \nKey contact:\nRoyal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children \nChris Rehn\nPrivate Bag 29, \nRIDBC Chief Executive\nParramatta NSW 2124\n361 – 365 North Rocks Road,\nNorth Rocks NSW 2151

Content

Submission summary…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Submission Summary

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) is pleased to make this submission to the Standing Committee on Community Affairs to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia

In this submission, RIDBC responds to items 1-2 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other Measures) Bill 2017, namely:

Schedule 1 Part Three A Division 3 73T NDIS Practice Standards
Schedule 1 Part One Division 6 Incident Management - registered NDIS Providers, 73Z Reportable Incidents (2)
Schedule 1 Part One Division 8 Compliance and Enforcement - 73ZN Banning Orders RIDBC has the capacity to provide further information on a wider range of issues and would welcome the opportunity to provide any further information that may assist the Inquiry in regard to matters concerning the hearing and vision health and wellbeing of Australia.

In summary, RIDBC submits that the Inquiry should consider and/or make recommendations concerning:

Issue 1: Schedule 1 Part Three A Division 3 73T NDIS Practice Standards (1) ’The National Disability Insurance Scheme rules may make provision for or in relation to standards concerning the quality of supports or services to be provided by registered NDIS providers.

Recommendation 1: To ensure the NDIS Rules are reflective of evidence and attainment of outcomes for participants

Issue 2:

Schedule 1 Part One Division 6 Incident Management 73 Z Reportable Incidents

registered NDIS Providers ‘2 (a) the manner and period within which reportable incidents must be reported to the Commission.’

Recommendation 2:

Reportable incidents are streamlined with State and Territory obligations for reportable incidents thus reducing the duplication of reporting requirements for providers.

Issue 3:

Schedule 1 Part One Division 9 NDIS Provider Register – 73ZN Banning Orders 3 (i) if the person is subject to a banning order- information about the Banning Order 3 (j) if a compliance notice is in force in relation to the person – information about the compliance notice

Recommendation 3

NDIS Provider Register is made available to Providers, whereby they are able to ascertain if a potential employee has Banning Orders or a Compliance Notice in place.

Submission by Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Page 4

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) is Australia’s largest non-government provider of therapy, education and cochlear implant services for children and adults with vision or hearing loss, their families, and the professionals that support them.

Our Mission is to provide quality and innovative services to achieve the best outcomes for current and future generations of Australians with vision and/or hearing loss.

We pride ourselves on working in collaboration with families, children and adults to tailor services that support and fit individual needs and life goals.

Services for children, adults, families and professionals:

Assessment and diagnostics
Early intervention and early learning programs
Specialist preschools, schools and school support
Therapy and re/habilitation services
Audiology and cochlear implant services
Research, postgraduate and professional education.

SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, an RIDBC service, is Australia’s largest and most comprehensive cochlear implant program, setting new benchmarks and delivering the highest level of care and support at every stage of the cochlear implant journey.

RIDBC Renwick Centre conducts world-leading research and provides continuing professional education and postgraduate courses in a range of fields relating to the development and education of children with hearing or vision loss.

RIDBC services are provided to over 8,000 people from eighteen permanent sites across Australia, and by working remotely in rural and regional areas.

As a charity, RIDBC relies heavily on fundraising and community support to continue to make a difference in the lives of people with vision or hearing loss.

For more information about RIDBC, visit www.ridbc.org.au.

Services for children and adults with vision or hearing loss