Legal firm steps in to stop Lochlain Harrod from losing NDIS funding for pain management

An Aussie law firm has thrown its support behind a young disabled Queensland man, after NDIS cut his funding, claiming his therapy wasn’t ‘value for money’.

A 21-year-old man with cerebral palsy who feared he would have to live out his days in agony, after his funding for essential physical therapy was cut by the National Disability Insurance Scheme, has been thrown a lifeline.

A well known law firm has offered to take on Lochlain Harrod’s case and represent him at an upcoming appeals tribunal after reading his story in the Sunday Mail.

The Ipswich man who has quadriplegia cerebral palsy, relies on three hours of therapy a week to stay pain free, which the disability scheme has funded since 2017.

However, bureaucrats reviewing his NDIS plan ruled the therapy was “not value for money”.

His mum and sister Laurynn, 26, said without it Lochlain suffers agonising pain, and his family fear his physical health could deteriorate to the point where he could lose the ability to eat or talk.

Lochlain Harrod with his mum Jill Carney-Harrod and Laurynn Harrod. Photo Steve Pohlner

Last week his mum Jill Carney Harrod said they planned to fight the decision at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal but had been unable to get Legal Aid or support from any advocacy groups to help with their case.

After reading about Lochlain’s predicament, law firm Slater and Gordon offered him its services pro bono.

Ms Carney Harrod said when she told Lochlain “his face and bottom lip immediately dropped and his arms went wide and he said, ‘Oh my god, give me a hug’ and he got teary”.

“He then started squealing and started making happy noises,” Ms Carney Harrod said. “He said thank you so much and that he couldn’t believe it.”

His mum said seeing all the shares and comments from the community following the Sunday Mail story made Lochlain “feel seen and that people cared about him”.

“To us as a mother and sister this is the happiest we’ve seen him in months and he says that’s thanks to everyone who cared about him, Slater & Gordon, the Sunday Mail, and the public.”

Slater and Gordon Associate Karen Jarman said after reading Lochlain’s story she knew it was important to step up and help.

Slater and Gordon Associate Karen Jarman said after reading Lochlain’s story she knew it was important to step up and help. Picture: Steve Pohlner

She said the firm has previously helped NDIS participants like Ian Waller, a NSW man with a vision impairment who feared he would lose his guide dog after 40 years due to cuts to his funding.

“The NDIS’s aim, as stated on their website, is to provide funding to eligible people with disability to gain more time with family and friends, greater independence, access to new skills, jobs, or volunteering in their community, and an improved quality of life, and that’s really all Lochlain and his mother want,” Ms Jarman said.

This week Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten announced his vision for a “reboot” of the disability scheme, saying that participants who have a permanent disability will no longer have to prove every six or 12 months that they still have it.

He also said that people on the scheme would be allowed to create long term health plans, which would offer them more security.

Mr Shorten claimed his new six point plan would help stop the rorts within the NDIS.