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NDIS participants slam ‘discriminatory’ price gouging in review

National Disability Insurance Scheme participants say they get charged more than double the cost for the same service an able-bodied person could get from an allied health professional, an independent review into the $35 billion-a-year scheme has highlighted.

What does the Victorian State Budget mean for people with disability?

Students with disability and transport are the main winners in this year’s budget.  $235 million will go towards students with disability and their families, along with expanding out of school hours care availability to accommodate their needs.   For Victorians that are unable or unwilling to drive, $190 million will be used to cap public transport fares at the metro rate.  A further $601 million will be spent to build 23 VLocity trains, and $219 million will go towards morel V-Line services, including extra weekend services on major regional train lines. Similarly, $32 million will be set aside for the Students with Disabilities Transport Program, which provides transport assistance for students with disability to attend specialist schools.

Support for NDIS Providers Grants

This grant program funds the development and delivery of tools and resources that are then made available to all NDIS providers. These large-scale projects focus on supporting providers to meet their responsibilities to provide safe and quality services to NDIS participants. In 2022-2023 , there are three grant opportunities offered under the program.  The funded activities will develop resources and solutions through co-design and consultation with NDIS participants.

Budget clearly signals ‘NDIS is here to stay’, with more to do on housing and economic security

People with Disability Australia (PWDA) welcomes the Treasurer’s assurance that ‘the NDIS is here to stay’ in his budget speech. However, tonight’s budget has more to do on housing and economic security measures that would bring comfort to the disability community. “We welcome the Government’s commitment to work with the disability community in implementing the … Continued

Funding To Stop Violence Against Women With Disabilities

Workers in the family violence prevention and disability sectors will be better equipped with the skills to prevent violence against women with disabilities thanks to a funding boost to Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV).

Budget Signals NDIS Is Here to Stay, More Work on Housing and Security

People with Disability Australia (PWDA) welcomes the Treasurer’s assurance that ‘the NDIS is here to stay’ in his budget speech. However, tonight’s budget has more to do on housing and economic security measures that would bring comfort to the disability community.

NDIS cost scrutiny is intensifying again – the past shows this can harm health and wellbeing for people with disability

Those in the disability field have been expressing a sense of whiplash since Friday. Many had felt buoyed by reassurances from Bill Shorten, minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), at the National Press Club the previous weekthat a reboot would ensure the scheme was “here to stay”. Yet a week later, the word from the National Cabinet meeting of state and territory leaders, was that NDIS growth would need to be constrained in order for the scheme to be sustainable.

Gov to boost IT systems for detecting NDIS fraud

The government is set to allocate $48.3 million in next month’s federal budget for anti-fraud measures around the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including new IT systems.

Automated NDIS assessments to stay but with “human element”

Shorten said there was no inherent issue with using automation technology and data analysis in NDIS operations, as long as it was used ethically and transparently.  “Automation and using data is excellent, but it’s the purpose it’s used for and it’s the manner in which it’s the ethical framework around it” he said.

People with disabilities should be a funding priority for the government

The government should prioritise funding towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme, says People with Disability Australia Vice President Sam Connor.  Ms Connor says the government’s budget should provide “reasonable” and “necessary” support towards the NDIS and focus on supporting the lives of people living with disabilities.

Review of procurement and contracting

The Independent Review of Services Australia and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Procurement and Contracting examined the procurement processes leading to the award of contracts to Synergy 360 and associated entities.  The review focused on internal agency practices and processes and the conduct of Services Australia and NDIA officials in undertaking the relevant procurements. the Independent Review produced an Independent Reviewer’s Report as well as a Taskforce Report to the Independent Reviewer.