QDN Submission: The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021
Introduction
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s (the Committee) inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021 (the Bill). The disability sector has contributed and engaged with multiple inquiries, over many years, that were related to changes contained in the Bill. In particular, the sector has been anticipating how the Federal Government would put in action the recommendations contained in the Tune Review.
To date, the NDIS in Queensland has had a significant impact on the lives of over 90,000 Queenslanders with disability. For many people it is the first time in their life that they have accessed disability support. However, many Queenslanders with disability continue to experience challenges with not only access to the scheme, but also challenges as participants across varying aspects of the scheme, resulting in poorer outcomes.
QDN acknowledges the extensive work that has been undertaken at both the State and Commonwealth levels to address the scheme processes and implementation challenges that are being experienced by participants, families/carers, providers, and the systems that interact with them. It is important that the solutions and the way forward continue to be responsive to the feedback and perspectives of people with disability, families, and providers to deliver on the intention and foundations of the NDIS with people with disability in the driver’s seat.
It is critical going forward that the Queensland Government continues in the important role they have as an investor and partner in the NDIS to ensure it delivers for all Queenslanders with disability.