Mother’s urgent plea to head off NDIS crisis in Townsville

For years, Joanne Lynam watched her daughter be excluded and ignored because of who she was, now she’s afraid a similar fate awaits others in need in Townsville. Here’s why.

Joanne and daughter Emma Lynam PHOTO: Megan Marano

A prominent advocate for people with disabilities and mother to a young woman with autism has warned that support for people living with disability is failing those in need.

Joanne Lynam, whose daughter Emma was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, said she initially felt the NDIS was positive because it could help people, but she had concerns about the structure of the service.

She believes those concerns have now come to a head.

“I’ve had concerns about the NDIS using a market-based model from the beginning,” Mrs Lynam said.
“If you live in the big smoke, that’s great, but if you don’t, then good luck.”

She said the impacts were being felt locally, with too few services able to provide complex and high needs care in the Townsville market, leaving people with disabilities to languish.

“We currently have approximately 10 people with high, complex support needs sitting in the Townsville hospital. They are not sick. But this is the only option they have to get the support they need because the high and complex care market has collapsed in Townsville.”
Her daughter Emma, who runs local business Master Shredder, has appeared on TV shows like the Project and been highlighted in service provider materials as a success story, but Ms Lynam said that if the NDIS isn’t changed, no one else would have the same opportunities.

Joanne Lynam, the mother of a young woman with disabilities, is concerned about the NDIS lack of action and how it's impacting the local health sector. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mrs Lynam said at least one Townsville service provider capable of providing that support was no longer operating due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The problem we’re seeing in Townsville can be resolved, but it’s going to be expensive. But it’s already expensive, it’s costing us already with these people in hospital,” Mrs Lynam said.

“The NDIS response to this situation is that ‘the NDIS is a funding body, we don’t control the market.’ True. But it is also true that there would be no ‘market’ for providers without the NDIS. Where is the care factor? Where is the compassion?”

Mrs Lynam said she wasn’t ignorant to the complexity of the situation, and that any proposed remedies or plans would be costly, but that it was important to address, or children like Emma wouldn’t be able to succeed.

“To solve this will require government to bring someone from outside to Townsville, someone with the training and the background to provide this kind of support and train others to do it,” Mrs Lynam said.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 18: Bill Shorten, Minister the National Disability Insurance Scheme & Minister Government Services addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Before the NDIS rolled out, there were stories about young people living in aged care facilities, people in hospitals that shouldn’t be and we promised as a community we would get sh-t done and put a stop to that. And here we are.

“Young people aren’t supposed to be sitting in hospitals. That’s the thing we were trying to get away from. For me, as a parent, it’s really worrying. I’m 66 years old, I’m not going to outlive my daughter.

“The things I can’t plan for, the things that I can’t control, when I’m gone, what kind of mess will be left for her to deal with. This isn’t okay. We need to get this right. If we walk past one injustice, what else will we walk past?”

In response to the criticisms, a National Disability Insurance Agency spokesman said the organisation understood that some regions could find access challenging.

Joanne and daughter Emma Lynam PHOTO: Megan Marano

“The Agency is working with communities and stakeholders to address market gaps and improve access to supports,” The spokesman said.

“The NDIS Review is also looking at options to make the market and workforce more responsive, supportive and sustainable. The Agency looks forward to the Review’s findings.

“Reducing delays in hospital discharge is a key priority for the NDIA and we continue to work closely with State health systems and NDIS providers to discharge people as quickly possible once they are medically ready.

“The NDIA acknowledges that some participants still experience delays with hospital discharge, which can be caused by issues such as the lack of appropriate housing or services, and we are working to improve the experience for everyone in the Scheme.

“Anyone needing assistance being connected to find appropriate supports can call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.”

NDIS minister Bill Shorten’s office was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Mother’s urgent plea to head off NDIS crisis in Townsville