A good way to find out more about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Welcome to Disability Loop eNews. We hope you are keeping well and connected with friends, family, and good support during this time. Here you will find recent news about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and helpful NDIS-related resources either from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) or from other organisations.
PPE Update for NSW and Victoria
Last week, the NDIS Minister announced temporary changes to allow NDIS providers in Victoria and New South Wales to directly claim the costs of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the NDIA.
These changes will see providers able to claim an allowance of $1.70 per hour of support delivered in the Activities of Daily Life Support Category, to cover the cost of PPE.
This means that the NDIA will pay the invoices - it won't come out of individual plans. So, if your provider comes to you and asks if they can charge you for PPE, you can tell them to talk to the NDIA and to charge the NDIA.
It DOES NOT have to come out of your NDIS funds!
You can find out more about Vic & NSW Providers directly claiming costs of PPE on the NDIS website.
PPE Update for Queensland
Over the weekend, the NDIS Minister announced temporary changes in response to the Queensland Government’s new Disability Accommodation Services Direction.
Temporary changes in "restricted" areas of Queensland include allowing:
NDIS participants to claim the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, for use when a worker is with them
NDIS providers to directly claim the costs of PPE for workers from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
The "restricted" local government areas are:
City of Brisbane
City of Ipswich
Logan City
Scenic Rim Region
Somerset Region
Lockyer Valley Region
Moreton Bay Region
Redland City
This means that the temporary measures already in place in Victoria and New South Wales will be extended to the above "restricted" areas of Queensland.
From Saturday 22nd August, NDIS participants in restricted areas of Queensland who rely on face-to-face supports and assistance with their daily living will be able to use an existing support item (Low Cost Disability-Related Health Consumables) to claim on the cost of PPE for their own use at times their worker is with them.
The changes will also see providers in restricted areas of Queensland able to claim an allowance of $1.70 per hour of support delivered in the Activities of Daily Life Support Category, to cover the cost of PPE for workers, directly from the NDIA. This will ensure participant plan funds are not impacted by the use of PPE by their providers and workers. You can find out more on theNDIS website.
Victorian Disability Residential Accommodation
Last week, the Victorian Government announced a Disability Response Centre has been establishedby the Federal and Victorian governments. The Disability Response Centre will be based within the State Control Centre allowing authorities to better share information and work rapidly to respond to outbreaks in disability residential care.
The Victorian Government is also working with disability service providers to limit the movement of disability workers across multiple sites. So they have established a fund to pay workers who miss out on work as a result.
This is very good news. AFDO and other disability advocates have been calling for the NDIA, and the Federal and State Governments to work together to protect people with disability in residential accommodation.
The Every Australian Counts team recently held their second online Zoom Forum with Scott McNaughton and Sarah Johnson from the NDIA.
The online forum was a huge success, and Scott and Sarah answered a lot of questions about the NDIS. Don't worry if you missed the online forum, you can watch theForum on YouTubewhich includes captions and Auslan interpreters.
If you head on over to the Every Australian Counts website, you can read an overview of the forum, the transcript from the forum, as well as some of the questions and answers.
While you're on the Every Australian Counts website, you might like to have a read of their report Left Out and Locked Down which reports on a survey of more than 700 NDIS participants and their families about the impact COVID-19 and the lockdown had on their lives during the first wave of the pandemic.
Every Australian Counts online forum
Supported Independent Living Participant Information Pack
This includes a new SIL Participant Information Pack. The pack has useful information about how SIL works, planning, other home and living support options, service agreements and support coordination. The pack is also available in Easy Read.
The NDIA has tested the pack with participants through their Participant First initiative. This is to improve how SIL works and to provide better information for both participants and providers.
Support Coordination Discussion Paper
The NDIA is undertaking a review of the current support coordination service model and has released a Support Coordination Discussion Paper for feedback.
The role of support coordination has evolved from its establishment seven years ago and the NDIA is committed to a future of support coordination that achieves positive outcomes and value for money for participants.
They are inviting feedback and ideas on the current support coordination service model to help shape the future of support coordination services.
Submissions will be evaluated and considered in the development of a findings report which will be shared publicly. Submissions close Sunday 13th September 2020. You can find more information on theNDIS website.
It's ok to complain!
NDIS participants have the right to be safe and to receive quality services from the providers and workers they choose to support them under the NDIS.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (the Commission) is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. The Commission wants you to know that it’s OK to complain – speaking up can help to improve services for you and other people.
If you are unhappy with the quality or safety of your supports or services – you can speak to the Commission about your concerns. It is always okay to speak up.
You can make a complaint to the Commission by:
Contacting: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines) or TTY 133 677. (Interpreters can be arranged.)
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