Introduction
The NMHCCF welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to both the NDIA as a DRCO, and the DSS through their public consultation process in relation to the draft supports lists under proposed amendments to s10 of the NDIS Act 2013. As the national voice for those with a lived and living experience of mental-ill health, as well as their family, supporters, kin, and carers, the NMHCCF sees it as vital to provide input to how the NDIS draft supports lists could be improved and what recommendations it would consider to better support NDIS participants and their loved ones. It
Themes
Through a consultation process with members of the NMHCCF, this submission uncovers several key issues relating the draft supports lists that the NDIA has proposed, including:
- Clarity and accessibility of the draft supports lists, consisting of confusion over some of the terminology used, as well as the use of contradictory statements.
- Mental health and psychosocial supports, including concerns about exclusions, mainstream mental health services, and a lack of understanding of the specific needs of people with psychosocial disability.
- Housing and transitional accommodation, where there is a lack of support for housing.
- Social and recreational supports, consisting of social inclusion and recreational activities, as well as school refusal programs.
- Support for daily living, including funding for daily living aids and reasonable adjustments in the workplace.
- General discontent and advocacy, where there is outrage over proposed cuts to certain supports, a need for serious and ongoing consultation, and the impact of affecting one section of NDIS planning by making changes to another.
Recommendations
With the NMHCCF being the national voice for and by people with lived and living experience of mental-ill health and their family, supporters, kin, and carers, it is in a unique position to provide the following recommendations:
- The NDIA to use a principles-based approach that allows people with disability and their family, supporters, kin, and carers to maintain choice and control over their supports.
- The NDIA and DSS to engage in meaningful and serious engagement, consultation, and, ideally, co-production of new draft supports lists with Scheme participants and their family, supporters, kin, and carers.
- The NDIA to provide clarity on terminology, exclusions, and contradictions in the current draft supports lists if it is not prepared to consider developing a new one with the disability community.
- The DSS to introduce either an end date and time to the transitional rules and instruments or a deadline for the delivery of the co-produced final rules for NDIS supports.
- The NDIA to fund more family, supporter, kin, and carer respite supports under the NDIS to subsidise the severe lack of carer respite support under other Australian Government programs (e.g. the Carer Payment).
Submission
NMHCCF Submission: Consultation on Draft Lists of NDIS Supports
