The latest information on the disability sector 9/8/22

9/08/2022 At the second Disability Reform Ministers Meeting (DRMM) on 29 July, chaired by Minister Shorten, all Ministers agreed that the original objectives of the NDIS need to be restored. Ministers also committed to consulting with the sector on the scope, principles, and approach to the review of the NDIS, which Minister Shorten has bought forward to this year. This review will be a crucial opportunity for the Minister to demonstrate his commitment to partnering with providers to improve the NDIS. NDS has been working with disability service providers and sector experts to identify proposed solutions to the current NDIS policy challenges. We will be actively engaging with the Minister and states and territories to inform the review terms of reference. ‍ COVID-19 preparedness With COVID-19 still a live issue, DRMM included a discussion of how COVID-19 preparedness could be improved. The focus on vaccination rates including improving vaccination rates for children and people with disability who are not NDIS participants is an important one. Many in the sector have been concerned that efforts to date have been targeted toward NDIS participants and have not resulted in the same outcomes for people with disability in the community who may be just as medically vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19. Hospital discharge Concerns are prevalent across all states and territories around people with disability who are medically ready for discharge remaining in a hospital because they have not been assessed or approved for accommodation supports. It is not surprising that this issue was again a focus of the July DRMM. Ministers agreed to work with their state and territory health counterparts to support the NDIA to establish hospital discharge planners in each state and territory. These roles will work closely with hospital discharge teams and will work to resolve issues related to planning and plan reviews, and explore options related to short- and medium-term accommodation where appropriate. In line with announcements made by Minister Shorten, Ministers reviewed the effectiveness of measures to reduce the backlog of reviews with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). A fundamental aspect is to develop plans that meet participants' needs in the first place. NDS welcomes the review of planning promised by the Labor government. Employment Ministers also considered the issue of choice and control in employment for people with disability, specifically related to people working in supported employment. Ministers agreed to future work on this issue including engaging in a Commonwealth-led roundtable. NDS welcomes this commitment as this is directly in line with our Vision for Supported Employment. Through our vision reference group, NDS will work to ensure the voice of people with disability, parents and carers, advocates, employers and providers are represented in this process so that a range of employment settings remain available. The next meeting of the DRMM will be held Friday, 9 September 2022 Reference ‍elink.nds.org.au/m/1/59372882/02-b22221-e278f7745f2d409bbf34a887f7df7f7d/4/522/2b9da273-ebd5-46fd-8c4a-94cbdba10642 ‍