Speech & Hearing
Releasine children’s pote
Committee Secretary
Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Secretary,
Telethon Speech and Hearing’s Submission to the Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Please find attached a submission from Telethon Speech and Hearing (TSH) to the Committee’s inquiry into the provision of hearing services under the NDIS.
As a member of First Voice, we have not included an extensive explanation of the current state of the provision of early intervention services, the background to children experiencing hearing disabilities and the consequences, as we believe this information has been adequately covered by other First Voice submissions.
This submission notes the current issues faced by TSH in Western Australia in the delivery of its services under the current NDIS scheme and of where the delivery of services have adversely affected both TSH and the parent / child.
We welcome the Committee’s inquiry into this issue and thank the Committee for considering the issues raised by TSH in our submission. They are of critical importance to our organisation and the continued wellbeing of children with hearing loss under our care.
Yours faithfully
Richard Duldig
Acting Chief Executive Officer
7 February 2017
36 Dodd Street Wembley WA e PO Box 186 Wembley WA 6913
T +61 8 9387 9888 F +61 8 9387 9889 E speech@tsh.org.au www.tsh.org.au ABN 73 885 107 614
Speech & Hearing
Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Inquiry into the provision of hearing services under the NDIS
Telethon Speech & Hearing — About us
Telethon Speech & Hearing (TSH) is a Western Australian based not-for-profit organisation, registered charity and independent school assisting children with hearing and speech/language Impairments. We provide services to families in a professional and effective way that makes us the providers of choice in this field.
TSH originated with a group of parents who had great hopes for the future of their profoundly Deaf children and refused to settle for what they thought was ‘second best’. The parents decided to start a school of their own. With five students, no premises, little money and experience, they made a commitment to pursue the very best oral education for their children and opened a school in 1967.
Since then, TSH has grown into a centre of excellence for assisting children with hearing and speech/language impairments, with the tenacity of the founding group remaining a source of inspiration and motivation to the organisation to this day.
After 50 years of service, our early intervention programs have been finely tuned to ensure every child suffering from hearing loss and speech/language impairments are given the best possible chance in developing critical skills needed to succeed academically and socially in their communities.
Telethon Speech & Hearing — What we do
TSH provides a range of in-house services including audiology, speech pathology, psychology and occupational therapy combined with specialist education services from multiple disciplines - all under one roof. We call this our “whole of life” approach, as TSH’s multidisciplinary range of onsite services gives families the convenience of one location and the comfort of dealing with one inclusive, professional organisation to help their children reach their true potential.
Responses to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference
Term of Reference 1:
The eligibility criteria for determining access to, and service needs of, deaf and hearing impaired people under the NDIS
There is evidence of NDIS excluding children with one sided hearing loss in other states nationally however WA NDIS has endorsed unilateral hearing loss. The concern to TSH is that when National NDIS switches to WA NDIS in July, the ability to service unilateral hearing loss will be lost to the State.
Recommendation 1:
Telethon Speech & Hearing (TSH) recommends all levels of hearing loss both unilateral and bilateral qualify nationally based on the functional need of the individual. TSH requests all newly diagnosed children to be placed on the High level trans-disciplinary funding band to ensure that reasonable and necessary supports are provided early and outcome focused with the following early intervention supports:
° Use of appropriate assistive technology
° Family to communicate, home language
° Primary therapy for language development
° Key worker model with the holistic needs of the child eg, targeted therapy for hearing, speech and language and assessment and intervention for fine and motor gross skills
° Parent support and education e.g. grief and loss counselling and developmental psychology
° Transition points: e.g. day care commencing with parents returning to work, transition to school
Recommendation 2:
TSH seeks with the move to the WA model, the eligibility criteria for determining access to the NDIS, and service needs of, deaf and hearing impaired people under the NDIS be published and consistent across the nation based on evidence based best practice within the reasonable and necessary support guidelines.
Term of Reference 2:
Delays in receiving services, with particular emphasis on early intervention service It has been the experience of TSH that the NDIA is unable to process client plans in an expedited manner so that children with hearing loss are able to receive immediate intervention and treatment.
It is in the best interest of the child that TSH commences essential service provision as soon as possible however the delay in receipt of approved individualised plans and consequent funding is threatening the viability of this practice.
Recommendation:
To prevent delays from the point of diagnosis to the commencement of specialised early intervention services, TSH recommends that a guided referral pathway is introduced so that upon the diagnosis parents are supplied with accurate information on services provided nationally to be able to make an informed choice. In alignment with one of the NDIS key principles of the individual having choice and control this is imperative to ensure parents have all of the necessary information and options available to them for their child to be provided with individualised support and help to achieve their goals and enjoy an ordinary life.
Term of Reference 3:
Recommendation: TSH recommends NDIS to restore funding equity to cover the full costs of service provision and costs associated in providing a specialised multi/trans-disciplinary centre.
Term of Reference 4:
Accessibility of hearing services, including in rural and remote areas
TSH uses tele-intervention as an option for service users to access therapeutic services. TSH currently services clients living in rural and remote areas and for clients residing overseas that have moved from Perth. Services users who live closer to the Centre may access face to face services and do have periodic scheduled visits booked in to the centre for co-ordinated service provision to be provided. For example, TSH has a family that reside in the Lower South West Region that choose to access both face to face and the tele-intervention service from TSH.
Recommendation: TSH recommends NDIS provides adequate funding for this service delivery model.
Term of Reference 5:
Whether the principle of choice of hearing service provider is being applied
Training of planners in hearing loss diagnosis and intervention would be helpful to support families receive the information they require to make well informed decisions about services as well as maximising intervention and best hearing outcomes.
Recommendation: Provide ongoing training for NDIS planners that are involved in the decision making process upon diagnosis and referral so that parents are provided with the support and necessary information when they need it the most.
TSH has already made initial contact with both the WA NDIS and NDIS planners to offer the training and are willing to provide the training to support this on an ongoing basis.
Term of Reference 6:
Liaison with key stakeholders in the design of NDIS hearing services, particularly in the development of reference packages
Representatives from specialist early intervention services have been well represented on the NDIA’s Early Intervention (Hearing) Expert Reference Group (EIHERG) particularly in the development of reference packages and TSH has been and is still involved in this process.
Recommendation: TSH to continue to be involved in the EIHERG, in order to assist in the development and design of reference packages.
Term of Reference 7:
Investment in research and innovation in hearing services
TSH recognises the importance of investment in research and innovation as an accredited NDIS provider and continues to take part in regular research projects and champions innovation in its’ hearing services as it has always done. However, currently NDIS pays for direct services to clients leaving the service provider to fund any further monies required for innovations in practice.
Recommendation: TSH recommends the NDIS funds the early intervention programs to cover the costs of actual service delivery and costs associated to continue to invest in research and innovation in hearing services.
Term of Reference 8:
Any other related matters TSH has concerns with the move of NDIS to WA model with respect to the eligibility criteria, delays in plan approval and primarily with the levels of funding.
Issues with quality assurance and professional credentialing, TSH recommends that all service providers must meet National accreditation requirements.
TSH recommends an establishment of a national early childhood screening system so that there is a high level best practice model adapted across the country.
It has been the experience of TSH enrolled families of NDIA planner interference in decision-making and process. Examples of these issues raised are currently being sourced and can be provided by separate cover.