Once again it has been a busy month for proposed reform in the sector. While the Federal Government’s initial legislation in response to the NDIS Review remains stalled in the Senate, two much-anticipated reform documents were recently released. 

The Australian Government response to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability was released recently at the same time as the joint Australian, state and territory response.  

As noted in our Royal Commission update, the Commonwealth accepted 13 recommendations in full, a further 117 in principle, a further 36 for further consultation, with six noted as not appropriate. 

The Victorian Government accepted most of the recommendations in full, in principle or in part. It will consider a further 22 recommendations, eight of which are the sole responsibility of Victoria.  

With the Commonwealth and other states and territories, Victoria developed responses to 85 joint Commonwealth, state and territory recommendations. All states and territories have accepted or accepted in principle most joint recommendations. As noted in our update analysing the Victorian response, this state did not accept one joint recommendation; that is, to phase out specialist schools. 

While the response was greeted with disappointment by disability advocates, the Chair of the Royal Commission, Ronald Sackville, remarked “transformative change doesn't happen overnight”, and that “the response should be regarded as a real opportunity to achieve the Commission’s recommendations and, with persistent advocacy, collectively the responses mark a significant step towards comprehensive reform.” It is evident that there is considerable work to be done to ensure the recommendations are implemented effectively and the voices of people with disability are heard and acted upon. 

It’s now a duty of sector to maintain pressure on governments to address and implement the recommendations. Only this will recompense so many people with disability for their courage in speaking out about abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect and contributing their stories to the Royal Commission.  

The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce also released its report in the past few weeks, making 11 recommendations. They include tiered registration categories, the introduction of a worker registration scheme for all workers, expanding the functions of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and changes to the complaints process.  

NDS agrees with most of the recommendations, particularly those around worker registration, platform providers and professional development requirements. We see the new tiered system as an attempt to reconcile differences around universal provider registration in the disability community.  

At NDS in Victoria, we will be interested to see how the recommendations will work with new Victorian regulation, especially, registration of providers with the new Social Services Regulator and voluntary registration of workers with the Victorian Disability Worker Commission. 

But while we work out the effects on members of all these reports, NDS in Victoria is still concentrating on our response to the recent egregious NDIA Pricing decision. Our priority is to amplify the voice of NDS’s Victorian members in protest, particularly those quality, registered providers who are already experiencing financial difficulties. The lack of compensation for the cost of registration and the extra training and supervision needed for quality services affects the better providers most. And with a lack of higher-level pricing for intensive supports, I worry that the ultimate casualties in all this will be participants with complex needs.  

I met the Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Disability, Iwan Walters, and Minister Blandthorn’s advisor recently to highlight the messages in our campaign with other peak bodies, Secure the future #4aBetter NDIS. I advise all our members to get on board this campaign and get in touch with their state and federal representatives. Use your social media to spread the word. We need everyone in government to understand that the pricing crisis will ultimately mean fewer and lower quality services for people with disability.  

I enjoyed catching up with providers in Mildura on a road trip with my colleague Fiona Still, who is our Quality and Safeguards Lead in Victoria. We know that providers rural and regional Victoria face particular challenges, so it was heartening to hear how effective place-based approaches that engage communities and focus on local needs can be. 

Our Victoria team have been preparing commentary on Foundational Supports for the Victorian Government. We will be stressing the general feeling of uncertainty in the provider sector. We will argue that, with the changes from the NDIS Review about to disturb the sector, now is not the time for the government to divert funds to future requirements. Providers need to know that state funding on inclusion and accessibility will be maintained. 

Lastly, it is NDS membership renewal time. I encourage all our members to renew without delay.  In our difficult reform environment, there’s never been more reason for the strong, effective advocacy from your peak body.  

And, finally, take the time to complete our annual State of the Disability Sector survey. What you think matters. When we take your fight to government, we need the ammunition of good, reliable data, and, for the past decade, the State of Disability Sector survey has provided it.