The Federal Government is funding a strategy to introduce Foundational Supports as part of a new approach that will affect NDIS participants and non-participants.
It follows key recommendations from the NDIS Review intended to restore the NDIS to its original vision of supporting those with significant and permanent disability. The review recommended Foundational Supports be a key government focus as a renewed approach to disability supports, without people having to be a NDIS participant.
The Commonwealth will invest $11.6 million over two years to support work to develop and implement the Foundational Supports Strategy.
All states and territories have committed to its funding with costs split 50-50, designed to strengthen the network outside the NDIS. The review proposed comprise ‘general’ supports, for all people with disability, and ‘targeted’ supports for those not eligible for the NDIS but are most in need of additional support.
General supports could include community care, assistance with shopping, property maintenance, and peer, family and early intervention support. Targeted supports would focus on specific groups such as children, young people and adolescents, people with persistent mental illness, and those with hearing loss. And also include early supports services, independence and transition supports, individual capacity building, aids and equipment.
In addition to the supports, the government is taking immediate steps in design and consultation across the following: $54.7 million for fairer and better ways to access a NDIS budget; $49.7 million for improved home and living options; $10.2 million to repair the market for better ways to access and pay for supports; and $3.6 million to undertake design and consultation work on a system of best practice early childhood supports.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said through a consultation process the government will capture a holistic picture of where additional supports and services are most needed. “The strategy will address the gap between NDIS and non-NDIS systems,” she said.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said these improvements will make NDIS processes “simpler, clearer and more transparent”.
The strategy will be considered by National Cabinet in the 2024 second half.