National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Scheme overview and implementation update

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Scheme overview and implementation update National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

The NDIS is the new way of delivering disability support Supports tailored to individual needs Insurance approach for sustainable costs Choice and control is central Needs driven Delivered in local communities National coverage

Background to the NDIS trial 2008: Government s 2020 summit proposes a national disability scheme July 2011: Productivity Commission submits report to government December 2012: Council of Australian Governments sign an intergovernmental agreement to trial the Scheme April 2013: Bilateral agreements with trial sites signed 2010: Productivity Commission conducts enquiry into long term disability care October 2011: Council of Australian Governments agree to the need for reform joint taskforce develops Scheme design March 2013: NDIS Act 2013 establishing the NDIS and NDIA passed Heads of Agreement are now in place for full Scheme in NSW, SA, ACT, Tas, Vic and Qld

Scheme principles People with disability have the same right as other members of the community to realise their potential People with disability, their families and carers should have certainty that they will receive the care and support they need People with disability should be supported to exercise choice in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports The role of families and carers in the lives of people with disability is to be acknowledged and respected

Three key pillars underpin NDIS design

The role of the NDIA Delivering the national disability insurance scheme Building community awareness of disability Ensuring financial sustainability of the scheme Collecting, analysing and exchanging data Developing and enhancing the disability sector Undertaking research related to disability and supports

Trial sites are established and expanding

A scheme based on insurance principles The risk of disability affects all Australians. Disability affecting an individual, partner, child or other family member may result in costs that are too much for any individual or family to bear. The NDIS is a way of pooling these risks. Each year, all Australians pay a premium (collectively) that is enough to cover the annual costs of the care and support needs of participants and the costs of running the scheme. We are all at risk of being affected by disability, we all share the risk and the cost of disability, we are all covered if and when we need it.

Scheme Achievements: Quarter Two 2014 15

We are a learning organisation As the roll out proceeds, the NDIA will draw on the experiences of the Scheme. Learning based on experience will drive improvement Openness to feedback will also shape the Scheme The Scheme will be continuously reviewed and improved Continuous improvement supports long-term sustainability

What we ve learned about sustainability Increased focus on overhauling IT systems and improving the provider portal Plan to introduce regular live chats on the Agency s Facebook page so staff and stakeholders can talk in real time about issues and ideas Appointed a highly experienced Scheme Actuary Announced an efficient price for the self-care and community participation services

What we ve learned about choice and control Implementation of rolled up packages for support: o capital items o investment items o consumption Finalise significant changes to the existing Quality Assurance Framework Pre-planning sessions for participants across all trial sites

What we ve learned about community ownership and confidence Build a culture at the NDIA which has at its core the values of respect, listening Implement a National Quality Action Plan, including a comprehensive participant feedback strategy We will continue to focus on strengthening the organisation s staffing to deliver the Scheme successfully Refine the co-design strategy to ensure people with disability are part of the decision making process

How things are changing under the NDIS Feature Former system NDIS Access criteria Vary from state to state Nationally consistent as set out in legislation Choice and control Varies from state to state - most people have little say over the supports they receive Level of assistance Funding Capped people may be eligible but can spend years on waiting lists Multiple programs within and across governments Individual has control over the type and mix of supports, delivery and how their funding is managed Demand driven people with disability get the support they need, when they need it, to make progress towards goals Single pool of government funding administered by NDIA

Accessing the Scheme People with disability who meet the access requirements will become participants in the Scheme People with disability enter the NDIS through multiple channels and touch points People in trial site areas can contact the NDIA to ask questions or to ask for an Access Request Form Gradual intake of participants into the Scheme

Disability requirements To access assistance from the Scheme a person must: Have permanent disability The disability has significant impact on everyday life and on the person s ability to participate in the community The person will need ongoing supports

Early intervention requirements You may meet the early intervention requirements if: the person has an impairment that is, or is likely to And be, permanent. There is evidence that receiving supports now (early interventions) will help: o Reduce the level of help you need to do things now and in the future or o Help your family and carer to keep helping you

Early intervention objectives Early intervention is particularly focused on children. Investment in early intervention is a key feature of the Scheme. Access to early intervention will aim to: Increase functional capacity Reduce the impact of disability Help maintain independence Increase opportunity for social, economic and community participation Utilise evidence based interventions

Each participant will have an individual plan and pathways for support Facilitating a Plan Individual Goals and Aspirations Informal, Mainstream and Community Supports (provided by other systems, family, friends and community) NDIS Funded Supports (if appropriate)

Management of funding for supports The type of funds management that a participant chooses can vary depending on their circumstances Different options can be chosen for different supports Self management (Participant or nominee) Plans may have a combination of the options as shown Plan Management (Provider) Agency Management (NDIA) NDIA can limit self management where financial or personal risk

Types of funded supports Most participants will access a blend of informal, mainstream and funded supports Supports that are NDIS funded must be reasonable and necessary and must: o focus on the participant s goals and aspirations o foster greater independence, social and economic participation o be evidence based o represent value for money Choice of and control over NDIS funded supports means safeguards may be needed to reduce risk of harm, abuse or neglect

Reasonable and necessary funded supports enable Progress towards a participant s goals and aspirations (included in the Participant Statement in the plan) Increased independence, social and economic participation o Includes employment o Reduces long term need for supports Strengthening of the sustainability of informal supports Reduction in future need for disability support for the participant and their family (early intervention supports)

Supports that are value for money Where there are two options for support which would achieve the same outcome, NDIS will fund the lower cost option A support which reduces the cost of future or longer term supports for the participant is favoured over those that result in increased long terms cost The cost of the support must be comparable to the cost of supports provided in the area where the participant lives All the supports together must represent value for money Increased independence, including paid employment, will result in cost offsets and Scheme savings

Developing a Statement of Support takes into account: Sustainable informal care Records informal care arrangements Talk with the family about sustainable arrangements into the future. Reasonable expectations of care provided by family Optimise mainstream supports Not funded by NDIS Plan records nature, referral and support required to access other supports NDIS will not provide supports that should be provided by other systems General supports provided by NDIA Provision of information Local area co-ordination to assist person to access mainstream Identify the Reasonable and Necessary Supports Provides funding for support reasonable and necessary support to achieve goals Assist independence, social, economic, community participation Effective or beneficial for the participant, having regard to current good practice

The impact of the NDIS on participants Brad is 52 years old and has a spinal cord injury. He relies heavily on his wife Pam to provide him with the care he needs. Brad s plan includes goals such as contributing to the community, gaining employment and seeking greater independence. With the support of the NDIS, Brad is going back to part time study and thinking about entering the workforce. With the help of two carers, Pam has more time to herself and can now take their daughter to school each morning. Source: AQA Victoria

The impact of the NDIS on participants Mia is 18 years old and has a profound hearing impairment. She has just completed high school and decided to seek an apprenticeship in plumbing. Mia and her family had worked with the NDIA to develop a plan for her support, which includes goals that she complete an apprenticeship and become more independent. Mia secured an apprenticeship and spends four days a week in the workplace and one day per week in a registered training organisation. Stephanie is 35 years old and aims to re-enter the workforce after 10 years of unemployment due to a psychosocial disability. Stephanie met with a NDIA planner to review her supports to help her achieve this new goal. This includes training to help build her capacity to manage effectively in a work environment, such as navigating workplace relationships, building her stamina and learning to respond to negative feedback, which will be provided by a Commonwealth funded Disability Employment Service.

The impact of the NDIS on participants Zoe is an 8-year-old girl and has Down Syndrome. As part of Zoe s plan, she wanted to be connected to some mainstream activities to help her increase her social skills and make new friends. After researching suitable activities, seven activities were identified as possibilities and included sporting groups, music classes, art classes and swim lessons. Zoe took up an exercise class as it would help with balance, motor skills and overall wellness. Zoe s participation in the sporting group was a resounding success. She is fully participating and has become more confident with the activity. Zoe s mum has become more confident as a result of these early successes, and she can make contact with the NDIA if any help is needed.

The NDIS is built to last As we prepare recommendations for governments on the optimal transition to full scheme, the NDIA will: Continue engagement with people with disability, their families and carers, providers and the community Build the capacity of Agency to respond to increase in participants Evaluate feedback about the Scheme Learn from new and existing trial sites

To be successful the NDIA must Keep the three pillars in balance Ensure the Scheme is sustainable o within the funding envelope Ensure the delivery of the Scheme is both efficient and effective o deliver on time within the costs agreed with Government Improve outcomes for people with a disability o tell the story about those improvements

Questions? Visit: www.ndis.gov.au Email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au youtube.com/disabilitycare