July has been dominated by disappointment and disbelief after the NDIA’s Annual Price Review (APR). The inadequate response comes despite growing evidence that the sector has never been in such financial distress. The APR’s 3.19 per cent rise for DSW service provision does nothing to address rising costs of training, insurance, registration and recruitment.  

Also, the work that providers and their staff do with NDIS participants who need more complex behavioural supports was carelessly downgraded.? These had been considered higher intensity supports and priced accordingly. They require more experienced and qualified staff to implement behaviour support plans to reduce restrictive practices.  

However, now providers have been told that these types of supports should be considered standard and can be provided by staff with lower skill sets. NDS has written to the Office of the Senior Practitioner, the Minister for Disability Services, the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and the Shadow Minister to raise our concerns. NDS has also discussed this with the NDIA and the state government. You can help support our campaign to secure the future for a better NDIS, by writing a letter to you MP and sharing social media posts within your networks. 

Tasmanian advocacy 

The Hon. Jo Palmer MLC, Minister for Disability Services, tabled the Disability Inclusion and Safeguarding Bill in Tasmania’s parliament on 19 June. NDS has followed the progress of the Bill closely and is pleased to be partnering with state government in a question and answer session for providers on 30 July. If you want to understand your obligations under the new Bill, please register today.      

NDS was pleased to see in the latest DRMC communique that a roadmap will soon be released. This is expected to bring together the different elements of numerous disability reforms, including foundational supports and DRC recommendations.    

NDS partnered with Play Group Tasmania and ACD Tasmania to represent the state at the recent National Sector Forum for Child and Family Foundational Supports. We hope the state government will soon show what they have in mind for foundational supports for children and families, including mapping and gap analysis.    

Following our budget submission on a Sustainable Transport Solution for People with Disability, NDS was pleased to see the Liberal Government election commitment to a disability transport solution. NDS attended the initial transport solution roundtable, and we will keep talking to the government to make sure disability providers are part of the solution 

NDS notes that HACSU has launched a campaign to introduce portable long service leave to Tasmania. In parliament on 12 June, Ms Burnett asked Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs, Ms Ogilvie, if she would commit to creating a Tasmanian portable long service leave scheme for staff in disability and community services, aged care, cleaning and security. The Minister took the question on notice, later replying, “I can add that the government has no plans to create a portable long service leave scheme for staff in the sectors”. NDS will be watching this carefully.  

Tasmanian Events 

It was wonderful to see so many providers at the Greater Hobart scenario discussion exercise. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, so we have pencilled in a similar event for Launceston on Wednesday 25 September. Further details to come.   

And following the success of our recent Diversifying Employment event in Ulverstone, we will be hosting a similar event in Launceston on 6 August. If you are working with participants on employment goals, this will be a great opportunity to network with mainstream employers, supported employers and to learn what has worked for others in the Launceston area.     

Pathways open   

I would like to give a personal shout out to Roen Meijers, who has expertly led our Pathways project, in which mentors ease the transition for young people leaving school for work. Roen has used codesign principles to ensure our pilot pathway — to be rolled out in the next two months — is fit for purpose. Working strategically with the Department of Education, Children and Young People, Roen made sure the pilot is embedded into the state education system — well done, Roen!