NDIS Planning
Submission 122
SUBMISSION RE NDIS PLANNING
My name is Karin Mead and I am a registered art therapist under the NDIS.
As you know art therapy is funded under the NDIS under line item number 15_056_0128_1_3.
I have been going with participants to planning meetings at the NDIS offices in Boronia and Box Hill in Victoria.
In Boronia I had a planner state that art therapy was not covered under the NDIS as it is not evidence based. The same applies to music therapy.
In Box Hill I did a report for a participant stating that it would assist with her functional capacity of not getting out of the house, social isolation etc and the planner said “We don’t fund art therapy”.
My concern is that if planners do not have the experience and expertise to allow for items that are clearly allowable by the NDIS that participants are not being allowed to have choice and control over their lives. It is also concerning that if a participant goes to a planning meeting without an advocate that they will not be heard.
My concern is also that I work in the area of mental health where my participants have complex needs and the planners do not seem to have a handle on psychosocial disability and how difficult it is for some to actually participate in society rather than be socially isolated.
From my experience there does not seem to be any consistency in plans ie some allowing art therapy some not and then when you challenge them and ask for an explanation it is just “the NDIS don’t fund that”.
I feel that planners need to be more educated and I understand that they cannot know everything but do not be disrespectful in front of a participant and say no without the knowledge or understanding.
Kind regards