Submissions

The Getting the NDIS Back on Track Bill proposes the most significant changes to the NDIS since its inception. This includes how participants access the scheme and how their support needs will be assessed and funded.  Overall, the Bill aims to:

• tighten criteria for the NDIS and what is considered an “NDIS support”
• enable early intervention pathways for people living with psychosocial disability and children under 9 years old
• change how NDIS participant funds are set and how they can be spent
• remove the distinction between primary and secondary disabilities
• strengthen the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

The Bill also establishes that new participants will enter the Scheme via these options and existing participants will be subject to compulsory eligibility reassessments, under the strengthened criteria. If a participant fails to provide the requested information, their eligibility can be revoked.

QAMH is concerned that these changes will unfairly disadvantage people with psychosocial disability. They are also being implemented without a clear and fully established system of foundational psychosocial supports that is designed or intended to meet the needs of people with severe, complex, and chronic psychosocial disability needs. Without broad and adequate access to the right support at the right time, not only will people with psychosocial disability be potentially worse off, but unpaid carers – including children – will again be left to fill the gap, perpetuating, and reinforcing the current issues of mental ill health facing our communities.

If passed, the Bill also provides the NDIA considerable information gathering powers. Overall, our submission highlights that there are significant concerns with both the powers that the Bill extends to the Minister and the lack of oversight and consultation involved in the process.