Labor’s commitment to undertake a major review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is an important first step in ensuring the sustainability and operation of one of the country’s most important social support services, Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia, Francis Sullivan said today.
“The $30 billion system, which delivers services to more than 500,000 people, is currently failing to provide value for money and the best possible services to clients,” Mr Sullivan said.
“The NDIS system is not working the way it should for participants or service providers.”
Labor’s proposed review must address some fundamental problems with the scheme, including ensuring:
- Disability support staff receive the respect they deserve from the NDIS system, enabling providers to employ staff permanently rather than casually. The system virtually requires service providers to hire staff as casuals to avoid making a loss; this outcome is unacceptable and undervalues the work that care workers do.
- Costs associated with compliance with the NDIA and NDIS Commission must be recognised in funding arrangements.
- A level playing field is created between registered and unregistered providers, and there are proper avenues for complaint resolution when unregistered providers fail to provide an appropriate standard of care.
Mr Sullivan said one of the major concerns for NDIS service providers is the number of unfunded activities provided to clients to ensure they are being properly supported.
“It is unreasonable and unsustainable for the Government to expect non-government organisations to provide unfunded services.
“CSSA NDIS service suppliers are running at a loss because funding fails to cover the costs of delivering services to clients.
“This is clearly unsustainable and we are now in a situation where some CSSA members are reluctantly considering withdrawing from the scheme due to significant operating losses,” Mr Sullivan said.
CSSA supports election pledge to review National Disability Insurance Scheme, The Catholic Leader
CSSA supports Labor commitment to review of National Disability Insurance Scheme, Catholic Outlook
Media Contact: Michael Salmon | 0417 495 018
PO Box 6067, O’Connor ACT 2602. T 02 6285 1366 | E admin@cssa.org.au