The spiralling costs of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) threaten its sustainability. Implementing changes through a proposed Bill (law) is crucial to ensure its future.
The revised NDIS, or NDIS 2.0 as it is sometimes called, aims to control cost growth, standardise funding amounts, and specify eligibility for lifelong assistance.
Key changes under the Bill that will go to the Parliament in June include clearer criteria defining eligible participants either through early intervention or due to severe, permanent disabilities. For early intervention candidates, like children with autism or adults with episodic disabilities, the scheme proposes shorter-term plans to assess the effectiveness of the
intervention. But individuals with conditions like spinal cord injuries would receive more tailored plans to support long-term independence, potentially extending up to five years.
The Bill redefines the core NDIS principle of ‘reasonable and necessary’ funding, shifting from covering specific supports to setting a personal spending cap. This change allows participants greater flexibility in how they use their funds, focusing on overall budget limits rather than itemised supports.
By establishing more consistent funding and clear spending guidelines, NDIS 2.0 is to address the original scheme’s issues like inconsistency and uncontrolled costs, enhancing sustainability and fairness.
This is a shortened and rewritten version of the original editorial by Sam Bennett and Hannah Orban for Pearls and Irritations.
The next step is for the Bill to go to a Parliamentary Committee, which will allow disability representative organisations, and the disability community to provide feedback on the proposed changes and highlight any unintended consequences or elements of the Bill that create cause for concern.
It is important to keep in mind that any practical changes for participants are still some way off.
Deafness Forum Australia will be providing feedback on the reforms, and as always, we welcome your thoughts and opinions.
Reach out to us!
If you want to let us know how you feel about the changes, you can reach out to our Disability Policy and Advocacy Director, via email – hayley.stone@deafnessforum.org.au
There is still time for participants to complete our NDIS Independent Assessment Review Survey. We continue to use the data from the survey to inform our advocacy work in this space and to make sure we are asking the questions you want answered.