The Albanese Government is moving in the right direction in getting the NDIS back on track.
Among the funding commitments announced in the Budget were increases to strengthen fraud detection and legal assistance for NDIS participants. An Alternative Dispute Resolution Pilot will be established for resolving disputes and improving fairer and faster outcomes for NDIS participants. There will also be an additional 380 permanent staff at the National Disability Insurance Agency to better support people with disability, service providers and workers through stronger market stewardship.
“Delivering these important election commitments shows the Albanese Government will not waver on its promise to get the NDIS back on track,” NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said.
Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister welcomed the two-year extension of the Disability Employment Services program. “We look forward to working collaboratively with the government on the new program designed to ensure that it can provide the best possible support for people with disability to find employment, aligned with contemporary economic conditions,” she said.
People with Disability Australia described the budget as “thoughtful overall”, recognising the attention to the NDIS and other targeted reforms including education and skills measures, housing and women’s safety.
“The 17 per cent rise to support costs and an increase in individual supports will see benefits flow to NDIS participants,” CEO Samantha Connor said. Funding to reduce the number of appeals and increasing NDIS staff numbers at the frontline have the potential to reduce some key stressors for NDIS participants too, she said.