The “important moment” for the NDIS

NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister told this year’s National Disability Summit in Melbourne that the NDIS is at an “important moment” in its second decade of existence. 

After recounting the Labor Party’s history and involvement with the NDIS, the minister looked to the future of the scheme, which is currently undergoing a number of reforms. 

“It’s not surprising that it’s time to look carefully at its accomplishments, the differences that have been obtained through the scheme, but also what needs to change,” McAllister said in her in-person address. 

The changes are necessary to move forward, she said. 

The minister said the government is determined to “secure the scheme’s future for the long term”, adding the sustainability of the scheme is crucial for the disability community and will ensure the social licence of the NDIS. 

‘Core pillars’ 

In her speech McAllister outlined what she sees as the “core pillars” of the government’s long-term plan for the NDIS: 

• The government’s planned $2 billion in funding for its newly-announced Thriving Kids program, which would provide a form of foundational supports for children aged eight and under with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism; 

• Ensuring participants have a better experience on the NDIS, with a focus on fairness, transparency and consistency; 

• Ensuring the integrity of the NDIS, including by reducing fraud and exploitation; 

• Creating a market that provides participants with high quality, high value choices. 

On the last pillar, the minister said ensuring the NDIS is fair doesn’t just mean creating a fair pricing structure, but also making sure the workforce delivering the supports is highly skilled. 

The minister said the Federal government is providing the NDIA and the Quality and Safeguards Commission to combat fraud and abuse when it occurs. 

“Even as we seek to drive out those who are willing to commit fraud and cut corners, we need to reward the quality providers who do the right thing and deliver high quality services to disabled people,” she said. 

Collaborating on solutions 

McAllister said the government had listened to the disability community on its reforms, with Dougie Herd and El Gibbs chairing the NDIS Reform Advisory Committee. 

“Their advice has already proven incredibly helpful and I am truly grateful for it,” she said. 

“From the outset, the scheme promised that it would be stewarded collaboratively with the disability community at the heart of decision making. The Act explicitly requires us to work together, but actually, our government wants to work together.” 

The minister said the new Evidence Advisory Committee would also have a role to play in delivering benefits to participants by determining effective supports. 

“I don’t think anyone in this room will deny that the work to reform the NDIS will be complex and at times, challenging. We are all aware of the challenge ahead,” the minister said. 

“But I truly believe that we can set the NDIS up for the next century. And if we base our program on returning the NDIS to its core purpose, we have our best chance.”