Excluded support sought
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The Commonwealth is working on support for those excluded from the NDIS.
The Federal Government has launched a consultation process on the development of foundational supports for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
These consultations are a key step in reforming how disability services are delivered outside of the NDIS, ensuring access to supports for all Australians with disability.
The initiative, led by the Department of Social Services, involves public consultations with individuals with lived experience of disability, carers, disability organisations, and sector representatives.
The first phase, commencing this month, focuses on general foundational supports that will be accessible to people with disability under 65, including those not covered by the NDIS.
The consultations aim to shape these supports, which are designed to provide trusted information, peer support, and capacity-building opportunities, allowing individuals to engage more fully in community life.
“There are 5.5 million Australians with disability and we want to ensure we have the systems and supports in place to ensure they can fully participate and be included in society. Foundational Supports is a key part of this journey,” said Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth.
Rishworth also urged people with disability and their supporters to contribute ideas, ensuring the supports meet real needs.
The planned foundational supports will be co-designed and co-funded by Commonwealth, state, and territory governments, in line with decisions made at the National Cabinet in December 2023.
This approach marks a shift towards decentralising some disability services, returning more responsibility to state and territory governments.
However, concerns remain within the disability community.
Some have expressed apprehension that these changes, alongside the separation of NDIS ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports from foundational supports, may leave gaps in service. The consultation process offers multiple ways for the public to engage, including webinars, online questionnaires, and in-person events.
Further consultations on more specific, targeted supports are expected to begin in October, continuing through 2024.
More details are available on the DSS Engage website.