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NDIS: State collaboration is key

April 2013

  • Kristy Sander

As a result of the Productivity Commission findings in August 2011 that Australia’s disability system is “underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient”, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been created.

 

The scheme is for the benefit of those people with a “significant and permanent disability that affects their communication, mobility, self care or self management”. Eligibility is based on ability to function rather than diagnosis. The age group will eventually include those from birth to 65 years across Australia and will be tailored to the needs of the individual on a long-term basis. This will allow people with disabilities to live with “dignity, choice and control”. It’s cited to be a revolution in the way Australia deals with the disabled community, born from years of underfunding, long wait periods and current system inefficiencies. The NDIS should ensure people with a disability wherever they are located, receive care and support based on their individual needs over the period of their lifetime.

Central to the success of the scheme is a collaborative approach between States, Territories and the National Government. The federal budget has committed $1 billion to support the first stage of the NDIS starting from July 2013. Where previously disability has been dealt with on a state by state basis creating a singular system of discrepancies, the new national approach enables those using the system to have the flexibility and consistency to transfer to other states around Australia.

A Launch Transition Agency has been established as an independent body, “working with people to identify their goals and aspirations, and providing them with the support they need to help them reach their full potential”. The Agency will also work with existing service providers, many of whom still have contracts with state governments, to make sure people with a disability can access the kind of care and support they need to pursue their goals. This may also include the support of carers in their role.

Although eventually a national based scheme, the five states entering the launch phase have all taken a slightly different approach. Tasmania will focus on the 15-24 year old age group, Victoria will target birth to 65 years in the Barwon region, NSW will roll out to birth to 65 years in the Hunter region, those in the 15-24 year age group will initially benefit in the ACT and SA has chosen to focus on children aged birth to 14 years.

One of the underlying factors of the scheme is the understanding that it is an insurance based approach with a shared cost across the community that supports economic and social participation. Resource allocation is based on managing the long term costs across the life of an individual as opposed to focusing on immediate needs or taking a reactive approach to crisis situations. The scheme is intended to provide choice and control over support for each individual situation – control over planning and delivery of services, control over managing of funding. The scheme finally gives effect to some of the obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Another key aspect of the NDIS is that it interfaces with other systems already in place. It is not the intention to duplicate or replace current mainstream services and community supports. It will work alongside the current housing, education, transport and health services, which will ensure the long-term sustainability of the scheme. Building community awareness of disability and understanding the issues faced will also play an important role.

There are safeguards that will be put in place to determine the most important needs for the person with a disability and what will best support their participation in life. Unaccounted for spending of lump sum payments is not the intention of the NDIS. Only reasonable and necessary supports will be funded with the focus on early intervention and a planner will be assigned to work with families to achieve this outcome.

At a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting late last year, an Intergovernmental Agreement for the first stage of the NDIS was signed, providing the foundation for all governments to work together to support and implement the scheme. Should there be a change in government later this year, bipartisan support of the NDIS has already been established to ensure there is continued and ongoing support.

In March 2013 the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill which lays out the legislative framework for the national scheme was finally passed through parliament. On its passage through parliament the Bill, along with the agreed amendments was “shaped by the feedback the Government received from people with a disability, their families, carers and service providers, through consultations across the country”. It is the intention that this consultation process continue as the scheme, recently re-named DisabilityCare Australia, commences its roll out from July 1 this year.

 

Kristy Sander is a Human Resources Manager based in Adelaide.

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