A fairer NDIS
Media, commentary, explainers and updates about our work to make the NDIS fairer for the people with disability who rely on it.
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2SER: the Disability Royal Commission calls for fundamental reform
After four years of often harrowing evidence from people with disability, 32 public hearings and nearly 8,000 submissions, the Disability Royal Commission has released its final report. Its findings are damning. According to the Royal Commission, people with disability ‘experience high rates of violence and abuse,’ and ‘continue to be excluded from participating in many areas…
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Improving access to specialist disability accommodation
Our report with Housing Hub showed we had improved NDIA decision making processes.
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2SER: Investing in the NDIS
The NDIS supports more than half a million Australians living with disability. It provides funding for services and supports so people with disability and their families can have greater independence, access jobs and education, and have a better quality of life. The Opposition Leader recently suggested that Australia’s AUKUS submarine program could be funded by…
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Many families in Australia need our government to support the NDIS
Opinion by Jonathon Hunyor, PIAC CEO The National Disability Insurance Scheme was set up to give independence and improved quality of life to people with disability. It has been said that it “exists to help Australians with disability live ordinary – and extraordinary – lives”. But it has become a political football in a game…
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PIAC case study – NDIS funding for a psychiatric assistance animal
In 2022, PIAC supported a client who was appealing an NDIA decision to refuse funding for a psychiatric assistance animal. The client’s story has been covered by the ABC. PIAC is sharing a case study about the client’s experience and an information sheet about the NDIA Assistance Animal Guideline to assist others who would like…
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Melbourne woman wins battle against National Disability Insurance Agency for mental health assistance dog
Following a two year legal battle, our client Sally* finally received NDS funding for her assistance dog Toby.
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The NDIA’s faulty guidelines on assistance animals are forcing people to battle for critical support
A recent case in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has exposed the National Disability Insurance Agency’s faulty policy on psychiatric assistance animals. Assistance dogs provide cost-effective, clinically proven support to people with a broad range of mental health conditions, yet the NDIA refuses to fund them unless extremely narrow criteria are met. Under current guidelines,…
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2SER interview: Parliamentary inquiry into the capability and culture of the NDIA
A Federal Parliamentary Committee is holding an inquiry into the capability and culture of the NDIA, the agency responsible for overseeing the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Over half a million Australians rely on the NDIS for support. But many of those people are reporting difficulties in dealing with the NDIA and getting access to the…
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NDIA inquiry presents an opportunity to put people ahead of process
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) will call for the NDIA to take a people-centred approach to decision-making at its appearance at the Joint Standing Committee Inquiry into the Capability and Culture of the Agency in Sydney this Friday. PIAC’s work with people appealing NDIA decisions has revealed that policies and practices tend to favour…
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How government is tracking on NDIS recommendations
Our NDIS Tracker helps advocates hold government to account in relation to NDIS policy and law reform recommendations. Developed with our colleagues at Gilbert + Tobin, the Tracker allows advocates to view all recommendations that have been made across various NDIS inquiries, as well as what action has been taken in response. View the Tracker…