New issues paper sets out proposals for reform

Reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to make it work better for people with disability have been outlined in our new Issues Paper, available here. 

The paper was published as part of our new project, A Fairer NDIS. The project aims to support and improve efficiency and effectiveness in the rollout of the NDIS, to empower the choice and control of people with disability. The initial focus of our work is on improving transparency and consistency around decision-making, and making the appeals process less adversarial and more user-friendly.

From July to early September 2019, PIAC engaged in extensive consultations with stakeholders across the disability sector to understand the concerns of the community in engaging with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) at key decision-making points.

This Issues Paper distils underlying issues identified across the disability sector during the course of these consultations and suggests proposals for reform.

Key proposals include:

• • Increasing transparency by requiring the NDIA to publish the outcome of appeal settlements
  • Clarifying how ‘financial sustainability’ principles are relevant to decisions being made about individual support plans
  • Increasing funding for disability advocates, including for CALD and Indigenous specific advocates
  • Holding the NDIA accountable for implementing systemic changes following appeals and settlements, when systemic problems are identified
  • Preventing participants from falling in the gaps between the NDIS and other mainstream services by shifting the onus back onto the NDIA when supports are not provided by other mainstream services 
  • Reimbursing participants for their expenditure on supports if the NDIA’s initial decision to refuse support is later overturned
  • Amending the NDIS Act to streamline internal reviews, including by specifying timeframes  

PIAC invites responses to this Issues Paper to inform our work, including our engagement with decision-makers within the NDIA, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), and Members of Parliament.

For more information contact Senior Solicitor Chadwick Wong: [email protected]