As a provider of NDIS services, it’s important to stay on top of the changes in the scheme.
After its inception in Western Australia in 2018, the scheme has had to evolve to support its participants and their families better. In the NDIS Review Report, many changes have been recommended to improve the scheme’s longevity (much related to ensuring its funding is used correctly), the NDIS experience for participants and the level of trust those have in the scheme thus far.
But, what does it mean for you?
NDIS registration
The report seemed to suggest that all services need to be looking at formalising their provision within the scheme. This means that all providers need to look at becoming NDIS-registered, especially for high-risk services such as SIL, SDA, Behaviour Support and Support Coordination.
There are different levels to become NDIS-registered. Really, it depends on the size of the business and the complexity of the clients you support and hence, the services offered by a provider or sole-trader.
All levels of registration will need to have NDIS Worker Screening requirements (check and training module); have a formal complaints process; be subject to the NDIS Code of Conduct and risk-based monitoring of services (successes and failures, inclusive of corrective actions taken to improve service delivery). Essentially, this is the bare minimum that the NDIS expects from all providers in the sector.
The levels are as follows:
- Enrolment
- Basic registration
- General registration
- Advanced registration
For supports such as therapeutic supports or support workers who operate solely in the community, there is an expectation to be enrolled or look to basic registration. Auditing is a huge part of becoming NDIS-registered, so it’s something that all providers should be looking at now.
What does that mean for a participant?
If you’re a participant of the NDIS reading the above, you might think this doesn’t affect you. However, it can affect you. Especially if you engage with a private support worker or private Support Coordinator (who isn’t registered yet).
If you have a self-managed or plan-managed NDIS Plan, it might be good to catch-up with those services linked in, and see how they are going to tackle these new updates.
Children and early-intervention
The support for children has been an issue of contention within the NDIS. Service provision across government schemes and systems such as schooling, healthcare and early childhood supports has meant that there has always been an air of confusion: which governmental support should you be looking at?
New ‘foundational supports’
With new foundational supports being looked at, the states and Commonwealth reached an agreement for services for children with disabilities that could be considered ‘less severe.’ The focus will be on services such as childhood education, schools and the healthcare system to step up to take some of the pressure off the NDIS.
What does this really mean, though? Well, if a child has an impairment but hasn’t met the NDIS criteria, or is simply waiting for the application to be reviewed, then there are other avenues to look for in terms of aid. Your child’s school should step-up, and provide that additional support (whether that’s an Education Assistant or having disability-trained professionals involved in the education and pastoral care); public health services should also extend their support through a more focused lens.
Whether the above can be actioned – without the reliance on the NDIS – is yet to be seen. How this will all be implemented will be interesting to view, and hopefully it resolves the areas of contention.
As children have been one of the largest-growing categories of participants in the scheme, it is vital that these other systems step-up to first identify a potential developmental concern and support the child before the NDIS feels like a last resort.
Psychosocial disability and mental health
The report highlighted the difficulty of supporting those with mental health concerns and psychosocial disability.
The NDIS has been flexible with many, supporting their mental health and psychosocial disabilities but again, there are other services that should be accessed to ensure the person gets optimum care. It is encouraged that mental health services connect with other providers, or governmental systems, to alleviate the pressure on the NDIS to deliver supports. Especially as these supports can fluctuate on a needs-basis (psychosocial disabilities can pertain to episodic needs rather than daily care that is required with other disabilities such as cerebral palsy).
Key takeaways
No scheme is perfect, and while we see the greatness in the NDIS, there are of course a few errors – or oversights. Things that have come to light during its rollout across Australia.
The report seems to tackle the ‘sore points’ of the scheme while seeking to legitimise and organise providers and supports. It also appreciates the fact that in the past, other systems or schemes have relied too much on the NDIS which is something that needs to change urgently in order to boost its sustainability.
If you have any questions about your supports with Kimberley Care Group, feel free to reach out – we’d love to hear from you!
References:
https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/513-western-australia-joins-ndis
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-07/ndis-review-released-with-26-recommendations/102855200
https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/resources/reports/working-together-deliver-ndis
https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/how-ndis-works/mental-health-and-ndis