New assessment process concerns
Independent functional capacity assessments
There are many stakeholders to the NDIS… Governments as the funders of the scheme; taxpayers who provide the funds; the NDIA who are charged with implementing the scheme; people with disability both in the scheme and rejected by the scheme; medical and allied health professionals; health service providers, especially those who get paid from NDIS money… and probably more.
Some are openly supportive of the move to independent assessments, especially those who will benefit financially, whilst others are understandably more cautious, given the patchy track record of implementation of the scheme to date and questions over the years about the commitment of successive governments to the scheme and the people it is designed to serve.
Adding to the caution… the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), the independent body which makes rulings on Government decisions, said, in a ruling that:
* the NDIA’s use of an independent assessor was wrong [in the case of Ray v NDIA]
* the type of therapist chosen to conduct the assessment by the NDIA was “not appropriately qualified”, and that
* the assessor’s understanding was mistaken.
The AAT found that contrary to the independent assessor’s findings, the person with a disability was eligible for the NDIS and the evidence supplied by treating health professionals who had longstanding relationships with the person was more accurate and much more reliable than the single assessment paid for by the NDIS.
With the NDIS now requiring all participants to be assessed by a single independent assessor, there are people with disability, their families, carers and advocates who are alarmed at this move and how it will play out.
What the NDIS has to say
Here is information from the NDIS about independent assessments.
NDIS Newsletters
Here is a recap of NDIS Newsletters over the last quarter:
NDIS Newsletter, Thursday, 17 September 2020
https://mailchi.mp/ndis.gov.au/enewsletter_17_september2020_participant?e=8bb3a5605c
In this edition:
- Support for participants with coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Early Childhood provider report form
- Independent Assessments: frequently asked questions
- Participant Service Charter
- Extension to Supported Independent Living Paper submissions
- Participant spotlight
NDIS Newsletter, Thursday, 15 October 2020
https://mailchi.mp/ndis.gov.au/enewsletter_15_october2020_participant?e=8bb3a5605c
In this edition:
- Open letter from our CEO
- Update: Extension of coronavirus supports
- Guide to Plan Management
- Carers Week
- Supported Independent Living (SIL): consultation
- A new Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) vacancy matching platform
- National Counselling and Referral Service
- Participant spotlight
NDIS Newsletter, Thursday, 29 October 2020
https://mailchi.mp/ndis.gov.au/enewsletter_29_october2020_participant?e=8bb3a5605c
In this edition:
- NDIS Price Guide update
- Annual Report
- Specialist Disability Accommodation data
- Second Independent Assessments pilot
- Accessible Australia app
- Help shape the accessibility of Victorian bus stops
- Communicating with our National Contact Centre
- New accessible Public Transport Victoria app
- Participant spotlight
NDIS Newsletter, Thursday, 12 November 2020
https://mailchi.mp/ndis.gov.au/enewsletter_12_november2020_participant?e=8bb3a5605c
In this edition:
- Latest Quarterly Report now available
- Specialist Disability Accommodation Reference Group
- Celebrating NAIDOC Week
- Autism CRC early intervention report
- Using quotable support items
- New website for open employment pathways
- Participant spotlight
NDIS Newsletter, Thursday, 26 November 2020
https://mailchi.mp/ndis.gov.au/enewsletter_26_november2020_participant?e=8bb3a5605c
In this edition:
- Have your say
- Update on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- International Day of People with Disability
- School Leaver Employment Supports
- Updated Price Guide
- Information on accessing the portal for nominees
- Participant spotlight