4 years ago
NDIS NEEDS A PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT, NOT EMPTY PROMISES
BILL SHORTEN MP
People with disability and their families, carers and service providers know that empty promises won’t fix the National Disability Insurance Scheme - we need a real plan for improvement, with clear goals and ways to measure the Government’s performance.
Among the many issues raised in Labor’s NDIS roundtables in Queensland and Victoria this week, people have told us that their experience with the NDIS includes:
Among the many issues raised in Labor’s NDIS roundtables in Queensland and Victoria this week, people have told us that their experience with the NDIS includes:
- Unacceptable delays to have plans finalised and services delivered;
- Inconsistencies in assessments from one year to the next;
- Outcomes dependent on the advocacy skills of families and carers, rather than determined as part of a consistent and equitable system.
Participants and carers have told us:
“The paperwork alone is a full time job.”
“I constantly have to ‘re-prove’ my disability. They review my case every six months, but no one ever calls ‘just to check in’.”
“I learned my lesson, you fill out the questionnaire as if it’s the worst possible day, otherwise you get overlooked.”
“We got a quote for a new wheelchair, and the quote expired in 30 days. The application took six weeks, so my quote expired and I had to start all over again.”
When the NDIS is working well for people, it’s changing lives – and that’s a great thing. But for too many people, it’s not working well.
If fixing the NDIS is really a priority for the Morrison Government, then they need to back up their words with actions.
Just some of the questions we need answers to include:
“The paperwork alone is a full time job.”
“I constantly have to ‘re-prove’ my disability. They review my case every six months, but no one ever calls ‘just to check in’.”
“I learned my lesson, you fill out the questionnaire as if it’s the worst possible day, otherwise you get overlooked.”
“We got a quote for a new wheelchair, and the quote expired in 30 days. The application took six weeks, so my quote expired and I had to start all over again.”
When the NDIS is working well for people, it’s changing lives – and that’s a great thing. But for too many people, it’s not working well.
If fixing the NDIS is really a priority for the Morrison Government, then they need to back up their words with actions.
Just some of the questions we need answers to include:
- What will they specifically do to address the delays and backlogs?
- Will they lift the staffing cap?
- What is their plan to improve employment outcomes for people with disability?
- What is their plan for the employment growth in the sector, to ensure there are enough qualified workers?
- What is their plan to establish a proper e-market, and improve the plagued IT system?
- When are they appointing a new CEO and how much importance will they place on their knowledge of disability or lived experience of disability?
- Half the NDIS board including the Chair’s tenure is due to expire in October – what is their plan for having a more representative and knowledgeable board?
Six years of the Liberals’ cuts, chaos and staffing caps has undermined the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
People can’t live on empty words. Empty words won’t get a plan approved, or supports delivered.
For the NDIS to succeed, people with disability need to be back in charge. The Government needs to genuinely listen to them, and put them at the centre of decision making, not at the margins.
We need a real plan for improvement, not more empty promises.
People can’t live on empty words. Empty words won’t get a plan approved, or supports delivered.
For the NDIS to succeed, people with disability need to be back in charge. The Government needs to genuinely listen to them, and put them at the centre of decision making, not at the margins.
We need a real plan for improvement, not more empty promises.