NDIS provider BlueCare withdraws leaving Australians stranded

A major NDIS provider based in Queensland has withdrawn its services, with warnings more will follow. See who’s affected.

NDIS providers are pulling out of the government’s disability scheme claiming it is financially untenable.

The situation is being made worse due to workers leaving the sector for aged care because of better pay.

It comes as another major provider, Queensland-based BlueCare, this month sent letters to clients saying it will stop providing community services for NDIS clients from the end of December.

NDIS and Government Services Bill Shorten said he was aware of the changes at BlueCare: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Other providers in Tasmania and Victoria have pulled out of NDIS services in the last couple of years.

Despite several requests BlueCare, represented by UnitingCare, refused to be drawn on whether the reason for pulling out was due to financial reasons, or how many clients would be impacted.

A source said there have also been redundancies, although BlueCare would not confirm.

One client – a mum who needs domestic assistance and social support after losing her mobility – said she was devastated and had suffered sleepless nights worrying about what she would do. Her regular carers have already been reassigned.

“I’m particularly upset not only to lose my lovely carers, sometimes the only people I see in my day, but also at the way they’ve just given NDIS people hardly any notice at all,” the woman, who did not want to be named, said.

Victorian Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) state secretary Paul Healey. Supplied

“This decision is affecting me emotionally, mentally and physically.”

Earlier this year Anglicare announced it was pulling out of NDIS provision in Tasmania saying for two years it had subsidised NDIS services, which was not sustainable.

“Tasmania, like many regional areas across Australia, has been experiencing challenges around NDIS pricing and infrastructure requirements,” Anglicare said in a statement.

A spokeswoman from the Victorian Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) said the state had also lost NDIS providers.

In an unusual move the Victorian HACSU and the Australian Education Union, joined forces with 25 NDIS providers in May, calling for the NDIS Price Guide to be reviewed to ensure it was reflective of workforce costs.

In its submission it said more than half of employers reported that since the introduction of the NDIS their organisation had discontinued some services because of financial issues related to NDIS funding.

And, 80 per cent of employers said they had areas not adequately funded.

BlueCare has withdrawn due to funding issues.

Separately, the HACSU also reported that workers were having to do more unpaid hours.

HACSU State Secretary Paul Healey said the “unions and employers agree that we need change in the sector”.

“With wages and conditions where they currently are, it’s a struggle to retain – let alone recruit,” Mr Healey said.

“A quarter of our members tell us they’re considering leaving the sector.”

HACSU secretary Tasmania Robbie Moore said disability workers were voting “with their feet” and moving into aged care because of better pay and more stability.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said every year the agency conducts an annual price review, and on July 1 there was a price increase of 5.3 per cent, for supports delivered by disability support workers and Level 1 Support Coordination.

He said he was aware of the BlueCare situation and the agency was “assisting participants” to find alternative providers. BlueCare also said it was helping with the transition.

If participants have any concerns they can contact their local area co-ordinator or support co-ordinator, or contact the NDIS on 1800 800 110.