ShiftCare’s Post

Bill Shorten introduced draft legislation aimed at implementing key recommendations from the recent review. Key proposed changes cover: 1. Streamlining entry into the scheme with a focus on individual needs rather than diagnosis-based criteria 2. Introducing the possibility of longer plan durations up to five years, alongside more adaptable budget spending 3. Establishing a clear definition of "NDIS support" to guide appropriate fund usage 4. Enhancing the NDIS agency’s oversight to address financial risks and potential fraud 5. Expanding the powers of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission This marks the beginning of an important dialogue on how we can collectively enhance the #NDIS to ensure it remains a pillar of support and empowerment for its participants. ShiftCare #homecare #agedcare #NDISReform #DisabilitySupport https://lnkd.in/g5r42VgU

🌟 Understanding the NDIS: Empowering Independence and Support🌟 Hey everyone! Very Good Evening :) Are you or someone you know navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)? The NDIS is here to provide support and services tailored to your individual needs and goals. 🔹 What is NDIS?   The NDIS is a government-funded program designed to assist Australians with disabilities in accessing the support they need to live independently and participate fully in the community. 🔹Who Can Benefit? - Individuals with permanent and significant disabilities - Those who meet the residency and eligibility criteria 🔹 How Can NDIS Help? - Funding for Services: Access to various supports, including personal care, therapy, and aids - Customized Plans: Tailored to your goals and needs - Support Coordination: Assistance in managing your plan and connecting with service providers 🔹 How to Get Started? 1. Check Eligibility: Visit the NDIS website our https://lnkd.in/dwa3DAYp to see if you qualify. 2. Create a Plan: Work with a planner to outline your needs and goals. 3. Access Services: Use your plan to get the support you need. Need more information or have questions about the NDIS? Feel free to drop them in the comments or DM us! 💬 Let’s spread the word and help everyone get the support they deserve. 💪 #NDIS #DisabilitySupport #Empowerment #Inclusion #CommunitySupport #LivingServicesAustralia https://lnkd.in/dwa3DAYp

There isn’t enough information about this. If this Bill isn’t blocked, people will die. I am already being forced to undergo reassessment of eligibility (after being a participant for 5 years), and the letter with details is generic. My advocate has not been able to get into contact with the person doing the assessment, despite the “we’re here to help” BS on the letter. It will cost at least $1200, up to $1500 and possibly more depending on the rheumatologist visits, that I cannot get back for the assessments I need to prove I am eligible. There’s no guarantee I will be able to stay a participant. People in need of 24/7 care could be forced out of individual accommodation into shared accommodation with a 1:3 support ratio, which has been proven to put people at risk of bullying, abuse, torture, and to even cause deaths. Victorian councils are stopping aged care because of changes made by the Commonwealth government. This will burden existing non-government supports, and put people at risk of neglect as well. (https://lnkd.in/gDAip6M4) 1. We could lose our right to reasonable and necessary support, as it is currently stated in the NDIS Act. 2. We could be forced to undergo assessments to prove our needs. 3. We don’t know what these assessments will look like, or how they will be used to assess our needs. 4. We could lose our choice and control over what we can purchase with our NDIS funding. 5. People could be forced off the NDIS before the State and Territory governments establish ‘foundational supports’; leaving many in our community without support. 6. People with psychosocial disability could be treated less fairly. 7. People who need 24/7 support could be forced to share support, and be put at greater risk of abuse and neglect. 8. It could be harder to appeal an inadequately funded NDIS plan. 9. Codesign is not required by the legislation. 10. The current Bill does not consider the whole person or the impact of multiple disabilities when assessing the need for support. https://lnkd.in/gBx3pZnH #NDIS #NDIA #BillShorten #KillTheBill #Ableism #CoDesign

Exciting Updates for the NDIS! 🚀 As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the NDIS, it's important to keep up, where possible' with the changes on the horizon. The recent actions taken to protect and sustain the growth of the NDIS are both considered necessary and promising. But, we have heard that before. For those who've previously encountered challenges with the terms, your resilience and adaptability have been commendable. These new measures aim to streamline processes, making the NDIS even more effective and beneficial for all participants. While I am looking forward to change, I am also apprehensive to see what these changes will look like and how they will enhance providers' ability to offer exceptional support. Let's embrace these updates as a step towards a more efficient and supportive NDIS for everyone involved. More importantly - do not lose your voice. For your workplace and your industry 💪🪴 #NDIS #SocialServices #Australia #Support #Community

NDIS Taskforce on Registration Some of the the things to know include... 👉🏼 taskforce is called the NDIS Provider & Worker Registration Taskforce 👉🏼 taskforce will release recommendations by June 2024 👉🏼 will advise on how to overhaul the registration system whilst maintaining choice & control 👉🏼 will likely see a graduated risk-proportionate model (i.e audits not required for low risk supports) 👉🏼 will likely take some learnings from support at home (aged care reform pathway) 👉🏼 at present there are 16,000 registered and 154,000 unregistered providers You can read more here - https://lnkd.in/gk6MWAtv #ndis

Apparently for two-thirds of overspent #NDIS plans, NDIA could not find evidence that the participant’s circumstances had changed, suggesting the "overspending" may not have been justified by new or increased needs. Primary focus of NDIS should be on support needs & goals of participants rather than solely on changes in their circumstances. Goals evolve & change as do peoples support needs. These can increase over time without a significant change in their external circumstances. So claiming a significant portion of NDIS plans have been overspent, meaning participants have utilized more funds than were originally allocated to them is a reflection on #systematic problems that need addressing & policies that need to be adapted to rectify this misalignment NDIS is designed to be participant-centered, allowing for flexibility in how funds are used to achieve personal goals. Recognizing that needs & goals can change as participants progress in their personal development & life plans. Participants may set new goals that require additional support, such as pursuing further education, engaging in new social activities, or accessing different therapeutic services. These new goals may necessitate increased funding even if their overall circumstances appear unchanged. Plans may be underfunded to begin with, the notion that overspending is solely due to misuse is incorrect & highlights systemic issues within #funding allocations. Many receive funding that is insufficient to meet their genuine needs. If the initial funding allocation does not adequately cover necessary supports, participants are likely to exceed their budget to achieve their goals. Accurate & comprehensive assessments are crucial for determining the true level of support required by participants. If #assessments underestimate needs, participants are placed in a position where overspending becomes a necessity rather than a choice. The needs of NDIS participants evolve, often in ways that are not predictable at the time of their initial assessment. Without a mechanism for rapidly adjusting funding to meet these changing needs, overspending can become a practical reality. Implement more #flexible funding models that allow for adjustments based on participants' changing needs & goals. This can help ensure that funding levels are adequate over time. Establish robust feedback mechanisms where participants can ACTUALLY report issues of underfunding & request reassessment. Identify systemic issues & improve funding allocations. Ensure transparency in review processes for funding decisions. Participants should have clear, accessible channels to appeal & review funding decisions if they believe their needs are not being met. Provide comprehensive training for planners or better yet READ PROVIDED REPORTS!! Ensure they understand the diverse & #evolving needs of participants. This training should include best practices for accurately assessing needs & setting appropriate funding levels.

You know the system is broken when all #NDIS participants are terrified to seek review of their NDIS plans. One of my clients just waited 6 months from when he applied to the scheme to get his first plan. Another has waiting over 3 months for a change of circumstances review. So many participants are being forced to seek review at the ART (due to the poor decision making of the agency) which takes months. These delays are unacceptable. The current NDIS Amendment Bill is not increasing trust in the system. If anything it’s planting more doubt and bringing up further trauma for the already marginalised disabled community. We’ve been promised reform. We’ve been promised positive change. We’ve been promised protection under the law. We are yet to see any of this come to fruition. We deserve better. National Disability Insurance Agency Bill Shorten Amanda Rishworth Dr George Taleporos (GAICD, PhD) Belinda Kochanowska Sam Paior JP, MAICD Natalie Wade #NDIA #NDISparticipant #NDISprovider #DisabilityRights #HumanRights #LawReform #Autism

🌟 Understanding How the NDIS Works 🌟 The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is here to support Australians with disabilities! Here's a quick guide on how it all works: 1. Eligibility: Find out if you’re eligible for NDIS support. 2. Accessing the NDIS: Learn the steps to access the NDIS services. 3. Planning Process: Understand how to create a personalized NDIS plan. 4. Using Your Plan: Discover how to utilize your NDIS funding effectively. 5. Review & Adjust: Keep your plan updated to meet your changing needs. Make the most of the NDIS for a better, more supported life. #NDIS #DisabilitySupport #Inclusion #Australia #SupportServices #DisabilityAwareness #NDISPlan #CommunitySupport #Empowerment #DisabilityRights #AccessibleAustralia #NDISFunding #InclusiveCommunity #BetterLife #SupportNetwork

With a 10 year review of the NDIA/NDIS with multiple recommendations to be implemented presenting a very timely opportunity for reform of the NDIS, instead we see registered providers having to reconsider support to our most vulnerable participants (and their families) as some supports become inadequately funded (removing behaviour support from high intensity eligibility) or non indexed. We also continue to see providers significantly out of pocket for making so called robust SDA settings safe for our Participants and Staff when all we are endeavouring to do is to is to meet our own State WHS standards. I began my career as a community rehabilitation and support worker 25 years ago where keeping people with a disability out of hospitals and acute mental health units was the goal for all, yet whilst the NDIA has improved access for many people who were previously excluded from State funded supports now having access, the latest pricing guide fails to provide the funding needed for people with complex psychosocial disability. Our staff must be trained and supported to work with behaviours of concern and complex trauma safely. If the high intensity rate is not reinstated for people requiring complex behaviour support, more and more experienced providers will have no choice but to leave the sector. We’ve told Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister Michael Sukkar that High Intensity Supports for challenging behaviours must be reinstated so the scheme does not fail those who are most vulnerable. We support the need for a viable and sustainable NDIS and whilst registered providers do everything to keep services available, but we can no longer subsidise costs. Does the National Disability Insurance Agency want registered providers to be forced to step away? It’s already happening. We MUST secure the future of the NDIS. #4abetterndis #ndisaustralia #ndisregisteredprovider #NDISreform #disabilitysupport #supportndisregisteredproviders #advocacy #auspol #psychosocialrecovery NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Star News Group Leader Community Newspapers The Disability Trust Government News The Conversation Australia + NZ

🔔 State Premiers Oppose NDIS Reforms: Service Gaps at Risk 🔔 Today’s news from ABC highlights a critical issue: State premiers remain opposed to proposed NDIS reforms, citing concerns over potential service gaps. This debate is vital for all stakeholders in the NDIS sector. As we navigate these changes, it's crucial to consider the impact on participants, service providers, and support coordinators. Ensuring that reforms enhance, rather than hinder, service delivery must be our top priority. Let's engage in this important discussion and work collaboratively to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of the NDIS. What are your thoughts on these proposed reforms and their implications? Comment below! #NDIS #ServiceGaps #Reform #Collaboration #SupportCoordination #DisabilityServices Read more: [ABC News Article](https://lnkd.in/gp94_WY8)