Summary of Hon. Bill Shorten MP Address at National Press Club dated 18th April 2023
As a disability advocate, I am pleased to hear Hon. Bill Shorten MP, the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Government Services, outline six policy directions aimed at improving outcomes for people with disabilities and ensuring the sustainability of the NDIS.
One of the key areas of focus is the #NDIAworkforce, with plans to increase staffing levels, improve specialisation, and reduce staff churn. This is a crucial step as the people who work at the NDIA play a significant role in the participant experience and can greatly impact the quality of support received by individuals with disabilities.
Another important reform highlighted by Hon Bill Shorten MP is the need for long-term planning. Currently, participants have to go through the stressful process of proving their disability every year or six months. Minister Shorten rightly points out that this is unnecessary and wasteful, and proposes the adoption of multi-year plans that are more flexible and sustainable. This would provide more predictability for participants and allow for better planning and outcomes.
Addressing spiralling expenses is also a priority, with Minister Shorten expressing concern about providers over-charging for goods and services, which can limit the choices available to participants. He emphasizes the need to maximize the benefits for participants, not providers, and suggests exploring blended payments and other innovative approaches to incentivize outcomes rather than dependence on supports. Minister Shorten also announces a pilot program in Western Australia that will examine whether early intervention for children showing early behavioural signs of autism can reduce the level of support required later in life, which could have promising implications for future generations and reduce the reliance on the NDIS as a lifelong support.(Telethon Kids Institute)
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is another area of focus for reform, with Minister Shorten acknowledging that the current program is delivering poor outcomes for many participants. He highlights the need to review SIL and explore better home and living options, including housing supply, rental market accessibility, and innovative accommodation models that are designed by people with disabilities and their families.
Lastly, Minister Shorten highlights the need to target the misuse of NDIS funds and eliminate unethical practices. He calls for a renewed focus on evidence and data to ensure that therapies and interventions offered under the NDIS are based on sound practices and provide real benefits to participants.
As a disability advocate, I am encouraged by Hon. Bill Shorten's speech and the proposed policy directions for the NDIS. These reforms have the potential to greatly improve the participant experience, reduce waste, inefficiency, and inflationary costs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the NDIS. I particularly welcome the emphasis on building a better relationship between NDIA staff and participants, adopting long-term planning, addressing spiralling expenses, improving outcomes from Supported Independent Living, and eliminating unethical practices. These reforms have the potential to create a more inclusive, efficient, and effective NDIS that truly meets the needs of people with disabilities and their families. I look forward to the next steps in implementing these reforms and continue to work towards a fair and accessible NDIS that supports the rights and dignity of all individuals with disabilities.
This is a limited summary of Minister Shorten's Address, I would encourage you to listen to the complete address at the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVORcCgBYSw
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
National Disability Insurance Agency
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