PEOPLE with Disabilities Australia (PWDA) has joined a coalition of 254 disability organisations and providers,
including Australia’s peak disability representative bodies, to call for urgent action from the Federal Government and new Minister for the NDIS Amanda Rishworth to protect the safety and wellbeing of NDIS participants amid rushed reforms.
PDWA is calling for the Government to honour its commitment to genuinely co-design reforms with the disability community and for a more careful, well-paced process which will lead to better, fairer and more effective reforms.
With eligibility reassessments underway and support needs assessments scheduled to commence on September 1, we propose a phased approach that allows time for proper co-design, pilot testing, and refinement before widespread implementation.
The campaign statement from Every Australian Counts, endorsed by 254 disability organisations and providers, outlines the following key concerns:
- Rushed implementation: The reforms are being introduced without the promised two to five years of co-design and testing. This approach risks serious harm to participants due to untested assessment tools and budget-setting processes.
- Unjust eligibility reassessments: NDIS participants are receiving inadequate notice and unclear communication about required evidence for eligibility reassessments. Approximately 600 people per week are being removed from the scheme without guarantees of access to alternate supports, putting participants’ safety and wellbeing at risk.
The signatories are calling for the Government to:
- Extend timeframes: We propose a phased approach that allows time to ensure reforms meet the needs of people with disability.
- Commit to real co-design: Collaborate meaningfully with people with disability and their families.
