The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is set for its first major reform going into full operation in 2020. The Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten, this week presented legislation to the Australian Parliament aimed at overhauling the scheme.
Among its aims is the introduction of protections against fraudulent and unethical practices that have come to light since the introduction of the NDIS. Disturbing examples of this were highlighted in a government report last year, highlighting unscrupulous behaviour of boarding house operators.
The legislation also aims to address an aspect of the scheme which produces different outcomes for applicants with similar needs. A third aim is a tightening of control on budgets and supports.
Exposing and exterminating NDIS exploitation
Sadly, there will always be those who seek to exploit any scheme and/or legislation for nefarious purposes. The NDIS has not been immune to this and last May several examples of such unscrupulous practices were laid bare.
Mr Shorten himself highlighted a report which revealed what he described as “alarming examples of exploitation of people with disability”. These included NDIS participants across the Supported Residential Services (SRS) system, historically known as boarding houses.
Examples included:
- accommodation services stealing funds from residents’ financial accounts;
- people with disability being coerced to approve false hours of supports so that services could charge without working;
- lack of access to clean clothing and very poor food with little nutritional value.
Evidence showed that recipients of NDIS supports were being taken advantage of in the environment of boarding houses. This included those on Supported Independent Living packages. The government took immediate action but also recognised the need for greater protective measures through legislation.
Some applicants are more equal than others
A review of existing practices identified that existing assessment criteria could produce vastly different outcomes for applicants with similar needs. This was acknowledged by Mr Shorten who committed to changing the assessment methodology.
“Your needs assessment will look at your support needs as a whole,” Mr Shorten said. “And we won’t distinguish between primary and secondary disabilities any longer.”
This move to a needs-based assessment has had almost universal approval, but will require significant resourcing. UNSW Sydney’s Professor Helen Dickinson explained: “Many of the tools needed for this process do not yet exist.”
Prof Dickinson also pointed to a wariness of any changes to assessment methods,
“given the controversy over proposals to introduce Independent Assessments a few years back”. She said, “those plans were shelved after significant backlash suggested they could become dehumanising and traumatising.”
Other concerns about NDIS reform
While most agree that reform to the NDIS scheme is a good thing, questions have been raised about process transparency. Disability community patients and advocates have expressed concern about legislation being introduced without co-design with them.
Some reports suggest disability advocates who did see the bill before its introduction were subject to non-disclosure agreements. However, the government attempted to counter these concerns, claiming co-design will take place over 18 months to flesh out changes.
Mr Shorten said that while the changes to the NDIS will make the scheme fairer, they will take time. “Review recommendations will take years to implement,” he said. “There will be a significant piece of work to collaborate with people with disability on the reforms, and we are seeking the lived experience of the disability community as we continue to strengthen the scheme together.”
Have you had any experience with the NDIS? Do you believe reforms are required? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: NDIS age discrimination complaints taken to the United Nations
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