Down Syndrome Australia: 'Don't mess with the NDIS'

In response to speculation about possible changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme following both the release of the  National Commission of Audit's report to the Australian Government and about cuts forecast for the federal budget, Down Syndrome Australia has joined calls for the NDIS to be implemented as previously planned:

Don’t mess with the NDIS

Down Syndrome Australia calls on the Premiers and Prime Minister not to delay the NDIS rollout and to guarantee that funding based on the individual needs of people with disability will be honoured. 

The NDIS is crucial for people with Down syndrome and their families across Australia, who expect that their elected representatives will stand by their commitment to fund the support needs of people with disability.

Every person with Down syndrome trying to work needs the NDIS to provide the supports to enable them to get up, out the door and into jobs.

Every parent of a young or adult person with Down syndrome who wants to return to the workforce cannot do so without the supports and services the NDIS will provide to their family member.

Any potential delay to the NDIS will also delay the 120,000 new front-line disability support jobs in non-government organisations – new productive employment – that the NDIS will generate.

Down Syndrome Australia agrees that the NDIS needs to be efficient and effective and notes that both the Productivity Commission and economists have concluded that the benefits of the NDIS will exceed the costs. However, the NDIS needs to be fully funded and delivered on time in order for the resulting economic and social benefits to be enjoyed.

“The NDIS is a financial investment. It will benefit us all. Australia can’t NOT afford the NDIS,” said Down Syndrome Australia CEO Catherine McAlpine. “We must continue as we set out so that the lives of people with disability are improved, and for the scheme to deliver the benefits that it is designed to provide as soon as possible.”

Down Syndrome Australia also calls on the Government to maintain the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) as an independent agency as recommended by the Productivity Commission to ensure that it remains dedicated to the people it was designed to serve. “It is crucial that the independence of the NDIA is preserved to ensure that the underpinning principles of choice and control are never watered down” said Ms McAlpine

Every Australian Counts media release

Council of Australian Governments meeting: communique, 2nd May 2014

National Disability Insurance Scheme All governments remain committed to the full-scheme roll out of the NDIS, which
will be informed by the important lessons being learnt from trials. COAG noted
recent reports from the NDIS Board that costs in the trials are coming down.  

COAG noted the Board of the National Disability Insurance Agency has commissioned a report on full scheme transition, and will advise governments in June on how best to proceed with the rollout.  

COAG agreed to list the NDIS as a standing agenda item for all COAG meetings. 

Fifield: Govt not trying to slow down NDIS roll out
James Glenday, Saturday AM (ABC Radio), 3rd May 2014

Despite reassurances from the states at yesterday's COAG (Council of Australian Governments) meeting that the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) will go ahead as planned, parents and carers of the disabled are still concerned about the Commission of Audit recommendations.

The Federal Minister responsible for the NDIS is Mitch Fifield.

He told AM's James Glenday the Government isn't trying to slow down the roll out of the scheme, but it does want to make sure that it'll work as planned ...