To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the proposed reforms to the NDIS and the impact these changes may have on remote and rural communities, as well as families in general. I also have a list of considerations put together from my colleagues.
My name is Delaney Giudice, and I live in a small town in the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. It is a beautiful place to live and raise a family, however it is also a low socioeconomic area with limited access to many essential services.
I work in a small paediatric occupational therapy clinic alongside a team of wonderful occupational therapists. Many of the families we support are already facing significant challenges due to living in rural areas, including workforce shortages, long travel distances, limited specialist services, and extensive wait times for support.
Reducing the funding these families can access, or limiting the services available to them, could be devastating to the development and wellbeing of many young people in our communities. Children with developmental delays and disabilities rely heavily on early and consistent intervention. These supports are critical not only for the child, but also for their families, schools, sporting groups, and wider communities that help shape who they become as adults and members of society.
While I absolutely understand and support the need for the NDIS to remain sustainable into the future, and recognise that reforms are necessary to improve the system, I ask that careful consideration is given to what may be taken away from rural children and families through these changes
I respectfully ask that future reforms carefully consider:
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The importance of stable, trusted relationships for children and families accessing therapy services.
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The realities of delivering allied health services in rural and regional communities, including workforce shortages, travel, outreach and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining staff.
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The large amount of coordination, administration and behind-the-scenes work required to keep regional services functioning effectively.
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The importance of maintaining viable local allied health services so families are not left with even fewer support options.
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The need to reduce unnecessary paperwork, repeated reporting and overly complicated processes that take time and funding away from direct support for children and families.
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The importance of recognising that paediatric occupational therapy is a highly specialised area of practice and that Therapy Assistants and support workers, while valuable, are not
replacements
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The need for systems that are practical, clinically sensible and easier for families to navigate, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and families already experiencing significant disadvantage.
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The importance of listening to the experiences of frontline regional staff, clinicians and families when planning future reforms.
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The need to protect and retain experienced paediatric clinicians within the workforce, particularly in regional communities where recruitment is already extremely difficult.
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The importance of ensuring future reforms strengthen rather than unintentionally weaken the community-based services children and families rely on every day.
The NDIS has been life-changing for many Australian families. Any reforms should strengthen the system while ensuring rural communities are not left behind simply because of where they live.
Thank you for considering the experiences and challenges faced by families in rural and regional Australia, and the significant impact these changes may have on their lives.
Warm regards,
Delaney Giudice
From The Whole Child.