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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-09 Daily Xml
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Disability Reform Council

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:32): My question is for the Minister for Human Services on the topic of disability reform. Can the minister provide some information about the recent COAG Disability Reform Council?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for that question. The Disability Reform Council took place on 30 April for the background information for honourable members in relation to the NDIS rollout. The commonwealth government is taking responsibility for disability service provision across Australia, and in that space all states and territories are transitioning their services to be funded under the NDIS through the NDIA, which is the National Disability Insurance Agency.

South Australia and New South Wales are the two states that are due at full scheme earliest. South Australia is due at full scheme on 1 July, so clearly it is critical that at those meetings the commonwealth government is made aware of the matters that are part of the challenges as we go forward. Those meetings have been very fruitful. Some of the topics that we discussed had updates from the NDIA, such as the implementation of improved pathways. Those who follow this issue closely may remember that a number of people, individuals and families, who are transitioning into the scheme were having their planning meetings done on the telephone, which many people found unsatisfactory. That's in the process of changing to face-to-face meetings and will result in a better service for those people and a better understanding of what their particular individual needs are.

There is also a range of other issues which are still under negotiation between states and territories in the commonwealth and these relate to matters such as specialist disability accommodation, managing the mainstream interfaces, particularly as they relate to health, and a range of other interfaces in other areas. We also received a copy of the National Institute of Labour Studies' evaluation of the NDIS report which was undertaken by Flinders University, and I can provide some details on those and further market updates from various states and territories.

The experience of a number of participants has been quite positive. However, it is important to note that there are some people who have not had the best experience, due to delays, and are not receiving timely communication from the NDIA. The National Institute of Labour Studies noted that there are particular inequities for people who have psychosocial needs, those with intellectual disability, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and older participants. So, it was certainly emphasised at that meeting that we need to ensure that those matters are taken up by the NDIA and that those cohorts receive an improved experience going forward.

It is also important to provide ongoing support to providers in South Australia, and that is part of my ongoing discussions with that sector. The NDIS is, overall, a fantastic concept because it provides choice and control to people with disabilities when, in the past, they have often been passive recipients of services. It has almost been a bit of the luck of the draw—if you could get yourself to a service provider who had a vacancy, then you would get a good service, but if they were oversubscribed or if you were in an area that didn't perhaps have those services available, then you would miss out. As the system matures, we will see a greater service provision and greater independence and dignity for people with disabilities, but it is requiring close monitoring on a very regular basis, and the Disability Reform Council is an important part of that process.

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