NDIS funds allocated to some users but they’re unable to spend it where needed
Some people are struggling to get funding for what they need from the NDIS – meanwhile others are receiving it but are unable to spend it on the required support.
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Frustrated users of the National Disability Insurance Scheme have been allocated funding but can’t use the money because there are too few support providers, a forum in Adelaide heard on Tuesday.
“I have $150,000 sitting here but I can’t pay anyone,” said a woman who cares for her severely disabled adult sister.
After going through the NDIS process to draw up a plan and accessing funds, they hit a brick wall.
While the plan was “amazing” in what was proposed, she was unable to find providers despite and was told to join waiting lists with no end dates.
The forum at Hallett Cove was arranged by Federal Opposition NDIS spokesman, Bill Shorten, the eleventh he has held around the nation.
“We want to start the process of reforming the NDIS,” he said. “We’ll take what we learn here and we’ll advance the case for changes and we’ll report back to you.”
Federal Labor colleague Kingston MP Amanda Rishworth, State Opposition human services spokesman Nat Cook and Mr Shorten heard some 25 cases of how people interact with the system.
The NDIS report for the June quarter found that only 68 per cent of support agreed and committed to by the NDIS had actually been used.
In small towns with populations below 5000, this fell to just 58 per cent.
“There’s a lack of services because the Government hasn’t done their homework,” Mr Shorten said.
Leadership was needed to identify chokepoints, improve eligibility and registration for providers and build a workforce, he said.
The most common themes included:
INCONSISTENCY of NDIS plans because of turnover and inexperience of the people drawing up the plans.
LACK of respite services
POOR support for families where a person has autism and exhibits disruptive behaviour.
FINANCIAL disadvantage from transport subsidies being withdrawn by the State Government and Centrelink to be replaced by cash from, NDIS.
Jessica Balestrin last night told how since she and daughter Ava, 5, moved to Adelaide two years ago from Townsville, the NDIS had provided no new equipment.
“She’s in pain every day because she can’t spend more than an hour in her chair,” Ms Balestrin said.
“The paperwork for a chair took more than a year because we couldn’t find a qualified therapist and then when we did they kept sending it back.”
“All specifications needed to be justified, and some were rejected — such as having wheels which could be used on grass “because kids should be allowed to go on grass”.
After two years, they were still waiting.
Mr Shorten said for Ava, “her chair is her legs”.
“In the meantime, the Government has saved two years of paying for a chair and parked it in a mythical surplus,” he said.