‘Secrecy and uncertainty’ over non-NDIS disability services: advocates

A new system of services for people with milder disabilities no longer eligible for the NDIS is shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty, advocates say.

Advocates say a new system of services for people no longer eligible for the NDIS is shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty.

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A new system of services for people with milder disabilities no longer eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme is shrouded in secrecy and uncertainty, according to advocates who are still expecting the rollout of “foundational supports” within the next month.

A Freedom of Information request lodged by The Australian in August 2024 for any documents, emails, minutes and decisions made regarding “foundational supports” returned fewer than 30 pages of almost entirely redacted materials.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet defended the redactions, saying the information was not disclosed because it could be damaging to state and commonwealth relations.

The secrecy over foundational supports comes as Children and Young People with Disability Australia revealed nearly a quarter of respondents of its May survey had received “eligibility reassessments” from the disability agency, 70 per cent of whom were children with autism.

CYDA raised alarm at the fact that 36 per cent of those reassessed were kicked off the scheme, and despite the government promising those no longer eligible for the NDIS would be able to access foundational supports, no new system yet existed.

“Without foundational supports in place, CYDA is concerned this will leave children and young people without adequate services if they no longer meet criteria for NDIS eligibility,” a statement from the peak body said.

“We continue to hold concerns with the lack of clarity and information provided to date by government. While we acknowledge that there is likely to be a transition period with newly appointed ministers, CYDA maintains concern that further delays will compound … anxiety and confusion.”

The trend captured in the CYDA survey follows revelations from the disability agency late last year that more than 1200 NDIS participants were receiving letters every week informing them their eligibility must be reassessed, with nearly 50 per cent having their plans revoked as a consequence.

The reason given by the agency for the high number of plans being reassessed and revoked was the fact that its ability to complete such activities had significantly increased through the appointment of a team of 95 staff tasked with reassessing plans.

Labor and the NDIA have denied there have been any changes to eligibility for the $40bn scheme, which was previously expected to blow out to $100bn a year by the end of the decade without government intervention.

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Questions over foundational supports have been reignited by Anthony Albanese’s ministerial reshuffle this month, which saw responsibility for setting up the new system shifted from social services to the health portfolio, held by Mark Butler.

While former NDIS minister Bill Shorten promised foundational supports would begin rolling out from July 1, then social services minister Amanda Rishworth told The Australian in February she had never personally committed to the mid-year deadline.

When asked about the secrecy over the development of foundational supports – being carried out by the secretaries of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Premiers and Cabinet – and any updated timeline, a spokeswoman for Mr Butler said the government was seeking to implement the new system “as soon as possible”.

“The government’s task is crystal clear, to secure the future of the NDIS,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our government will work with states and territories to finalise foundational supports as soon as possible.”

People With Disability Australia also raised alarm at the lack of clarity over the rollout for foundational supports, due to begin in less than 40 days.

“As the rollout date approaches, there is still uncertainty regarding the detail, delivery and scope of these supports,” PWDA deputy chief executive Megan Spindler-Smith said.

“National consistency through cross-state, territory and commonwealth agreement is essential for foundational supports to be implemented and successful, but more clarity is needed for the nearly five million Australians who cannot access the NDIS.”

Despite all states and territories agreeing in principle in late 2023 to the notion that they needed to both increase their yearly contributions to the NDIS and help set up foundational supports on a 50/50 basis, the commonwealth has been yet to land the detail.

The deal will be negotiated alongside a five-year public hospital funding arrangement, which the Albanese government was unable to land before the May election, prompting it to announce an interim $1.7bn funding top-up for the next 12 months.

Labor sources expressed hope that, with Mr Butler now at the helm of both negotiations for public hospital funding and setting up foundational supports, more progress could be made.