NDIS ‘up against it to meet deadline’

THE agency in control of the NDIS is fast running out of time to make critical decisions about its future design, a major new report says.

THE agency in control of the ­national disability insurance scheme is fast running out of time to make critical decisions about its future design, and the policy uncertainty is hurting the ability of service providers to prepare effectively for it, a major new report says.

The first ever survey of organisations in the disability sector, released by National Disability Services today, paints a picture of an industry willing to adapt for the future but without any clear indication of what lies ahead.

Crucially, the report reveals concerns state and territory ­governments will abdicate ­responsibility for funding ser­vices not included at the costly, high needs end of the NDIS reserved for people with severe and permanent disabilities.

Some 4.8 million people are included in what the scheme calls “Tier 2”: those who miss out on an individual support package but have a disability or are caring for someone who does.

“As the NDIS is implemented, there are signs that some state and territory governments will seek to reduce their investment in Tier 2 and mainstream services,” the report says.

“Significant pieces of the NDIS design are still being ­developed. They include a ­national quality and safeguards framework, services for people who just miss out on an individual support package and the ­design of the future disability support market.”

More than 80 per cent of ­providers in the sector said the policy confusion is detracting from their ability to plan for the NDIS.

The existing providers will be “severely tested” in the transition to the full NDIS as two-thirds don’t have steady cash balances and the new regime will see services paid on an ­individual-by-individual basis instead of block-funded.

Providers reported needing to hire more staff in NDIS trial sites to support the same number of clients. Despite the “raw nerves” about how the NDIS will be completed, providers agreed reform was heading in the right direction.