Recent Media
December 7 - WA National Disability Insurance Scheme: Disabled community fears being disadvantaged
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-07/wa-disabled-community-fearful-of-state-ndis-model/8101460?pfmredir=sm&sf45282541=1
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-07/wa-disabled-community-fearful-of-state-ndis-model/8101460?pfmredir=sm&sf45282541=1
December 2 - Federal and State Government Announce Negotiations
http://christianporter.dss.gov.au/media-releases/governments-agree-the-way-forward-for-ndis-in-wa
http://christianporter.dss.gov.au/media-releases/governments-agree-the-way-forward-for-ndis-in-wa
October 28 - WA Disability Advocates Urge Barnett to Sign Up With NDIS -
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/wa-disability-advocates-push-barnett-government-to-sign-up-with-ndis/news-story/7b3dd7ff8947c42720e672a515c02cd9
Transcript - Disability advocates in Western Australia say they could end up with the worst disability funding system in Australia if the Barnett government fails to sign up with the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the last state to do so.
On the eve of a promised announcement by the WA government this month about whether it will sign a bilateral agreement and join the national scheme, it is persisting with its own WA NDIS trial, formerly called My Way. Currently 2284 individuals are signed up for the WA trial, with over 1000 more individuals to be signed up in three outer Perth suburbs in coming months.
In April, both WA and federal disability ministers announced an extension of existing federal NDIS and My Way trial sites, aimed at comparing cost and efficacy of both schemes, for another 12 months until July next year.
Disability Services Minister Donna Faragher has not ruled out WA adopting its own pick-and-reject model, taking the best aspects of both schemes. In July she said the NDIS scheme in WA “will be nationally consistent in relation to eligibility, portability and reasonable and necessary supports.”
Prominent advocate Samantha Connor, a former member of the ministerial advisory council on disability, says disabled people in WA may be deprived of control and choice of service if WA decides to stick largely with elements of its own funding model.
A major sticking point has been the WA scheme’s heavy reliance on local area co-ordinators, or LACs, to act as a contractual bridge between disabled people and the services they need. Disability consultant Zel Iscel, who is visually impaired, said local groups had fought hard for choice and control “and that’s what the national scheme offers.” She said a major difference lay in the NDIS offering a choice of planner to help select services, while LACs were allocated and could not be changed.
“With the NDIS the final contract is between the individual and the service,” she said. “If you’re not happy, you can stop paying them. With the WA scheme, you have to go back to your LAC if you’re not happy. A lot of people I know have to wait a long time to get what they want.”
“I don’t see the point of having two systems, it seems superfluous,” she said.
The WA group Nodisadvantage has posted ‘Ten Reasons WA Might End Up With the Worst Disability System in Australia.’
“There are reports that budget holders are directly advising existing clients what they can and can’t ask for, and evidence of gatekeeping,” it says on its website. “Who holds the power and who will hold it in the future?”
Ms Connor said Premier Colin Barnett had sought to reassure advocacy groups. “He told us the state government would pick the best bits of both schemes, but we say ‘show us what those best bits will be’,” Ms Connor said.
“There is no indication that disabled people will be able to look at what is proposed and decide what is best for us,” she said. “We are now at risk of having the worst system in Australia if it is not as good as the Federal system.”
On the eve of a promised announcement by the WA government this month about whether it will sign a bilateral agreement and join the national scheme, it is persisting with its own WA NDIS trial, formerly called My Way. Currently 2284 individuals are signed up for the WA trial, with over 1000 more individuals to be signed up in three outer Perth suburbs in coming months.
In April, both WA and federal disability ministers announced an extension of existing federal NDIS and My Way trial sites, aimed at comparing cost and efficacy of both schemes, for another 12 months until July next year.
Disability Services Minister Donna Faragher has not ruled out WA adopting its own pick-and-reject model, taking the best aspects of both schemes. In July she said the NDIS scheme in WA “will be nationally consistent in relation to eligibility, portability and reasonable and necessary supports.”
Prominent advocate Samantha Connor, a former member of the ministerial advisory council on disability, says disabled people in WA may be deprived of control and choice of service if WA decides to stick largely with elements of its own funding model.
A major sticking point has been the WA scheme’s heavy reliance on local area co-ordinators, or LACs, to act as a contractual bridge between disabled people and the services they need. Disability consultant Zel Iscel, who is visually impaired, said local groups had fought hard for choice and control “and that’s what the national scheme offers.” She said a major difference lay in the NDIS offering a choice of planner to help select services, while LACs were allocated and could not be changed.
“With the NDIS the final contract is between the individual and the service,” she said. “If you’re not happy, you can stop paying them. With the WA scheme, you have to go back to your LAC if you’re not happy. A lot of people I know have to wait a long time to get what they want.”
“I don’t see the point of having two systems, it seems superfluous,” she said.
The WA group Nodisadvantage has posted ‘Ten Reasons WA Might End Up With the Worst Disability System in Australia.’
“There are reports that budget holders are directly advising existing clients what they can and can’t ask for, and evidence of gatekeeping,” it says on its website. “Who holds the power and who will hold it in the future?”
Ms Connor said Premier Colin Barnett had sought to reassure advocacy groups. “He told us the state government would pick the best bits of both schemes, but we say ‘show us what those best bits will be’,” Ms Connor said.
“There is no indication that disabled people will be able to look at what is proposed and decide what is best for us,” she said. “We are now at risk of having the worst system in Australia if it is not as good as the Federal system.”
10 March - Every Australian Counts, No Disadvantage for West Australians with Disability
http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/no-disadvantage-for-west-australians-with-disability/
http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/no-disadvantage-for-west-australians-with-disability/
National Ethnic Disability Alliance - December 08, 2016
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance “NEDA” holds grave concerns for the many people living with disability who are eligible to access the NDIS given the recent developments in Western Australia with the WA Government deciding to “go it alone” with their own scheme.
“I have every reason to believe that if WA had followed the national model and not a hybrid state version, we would have a truly national scheme that will be appropriately resourced, funded and administered.
One word of caution must be issued at this point. Whatever disability system is adopted in WA it is imperative that people with disability are included in designing and implementing the system” stated NEDA President Suresh Rajan.
Another issue that is significant is that of the portability of benefits PWD’s can achieve across States and territories. Assurances that this portability will be assured by way of agreement across the Premiers of each state have to be viewed with concern. WA’s experience in the allocation of GST revenues is a very troubling precedent. We have already seen the NDIA within the ACT, state that they are at capacity; will this be magnified in WA if they have an independent scheme?
WA is already cash strapped with the economy feeling the downturn from the mining sector. If WA opts out of the national model it will seriously put at risk the wellbeing of people with disabilities. If the state is not able to match the commonwealth scheme because of its economic woes.
“Of additional concern for NEDA is involvement of disability consumers from within the CaLD community.
The NDIS is already investing in and developing strategies to engage parts of the community that are difficult to connect and engage with due to such things as Language difficulties; Will WA now need to develop all of these tools “in-house” or will the national body share these strategies and engagement process nationally? If WA were to go it alone, it might be many years behind in targeting those people most at risk because of a lack of policy development and engagement strategies” stated Mr Rajan.
If you require any further information, please contact the NEDA CEO Mr Dwayne Cranfield on 02 62626867 or Suresh Rajan NEDA President on: 0413436001.
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance “NEDA” holds grave concerns for the many people living with disability who are eligible to access the NDIS given the recent developments in Western Australia with the WA Government deciding to “go it alone” with their own scheme.
“I have every reason to believe that if WA had followed the national model and not a hybrid state version, we would have a truly national scheme that will be appropriately resourced, funded and administered.
One word of caution must be issued at this point. Whatever disability system is adopted in WA it is imperative that people with disability are included in designing and implementing the system” stated NEDA President Suresh Rajan.
Another issue that is significant is that of the portability of benefits PWD’s can achieve across States and territories. Assurances that this portability will be assured by way of agreement across the Premiers of each state have to be viewed with concern. WA’s experience in the allocation of GST revenues is a very troubling precedent. We have already seen the NDIA within the ACT, state that they are at capacity; will this be magnified in WA if they have an independent scheme?
WA is already cash strapped with the economy feeling the downturn from the mining sector. If WA opts out of the national model it will seriously put at risk the wellbeing of people with disabilities. If the state is not able to match the commonwealth scheme because of its economic woes.
“Of additional concern for NEDA is involvement of disability consumers from within the CaLD community.
The NDIS is already investing in and developing strategies to engage parts of the community that are difficult to connect and engage with due to such things as Language difficulties; Will WA now need to develop all of these tools “in-house” or will the national body share these strategies and engagement process nationally? If WA were to go it alone, it might be many years behind in targeting those people most at risk because of a lack of policy development and engagement strategies” stated Mr Rajan.
If you require any further information, please contact the NEDA CEO Mr Dwayne Cranfield on 02 62626867 or Suresh Rajan NEDA President on: 0413436001.
‘Devil in the detail’ on NDIS deal say Greens candidates - 7 December
The Greens candidate for North Metro, Alison Xamon together with disability advocate and Greens candidate, Samantha Jenkinson have today reiterated concerns about the Barnett Government’s recent announcement of the deal to have WA deliver a separate WA NDIS model and have called for the bi-lateral agreement, draft legislation and the reviews of the scheme to be made public.
While not saying that the NDIS needs to be delivered nationally there remains serious concerns as to the lack of clarity and transparency around a WA delivered model.
“We have the announcement but there needs to be more information on how various aspects of the proposal may impact on people with disability, their families and their carers” Ms Xamon said.
“The WA Government has decided to develop its own scheme, which means there are likely to be differences between WA and other states caused by separate information technology, data collection and planning. It is important that there is enough consistency in the scheme across the country to allow consumers to access support across the states without being disadvantaged. This was one of the reasons for having a national scheme in the first place.”
Money allocated for capacity building programs to improve access and inclusion for people with disability will be jointly funded but it is unclear whether the shared pool of funds will have the same principles and outcomes as the federal scheme, such as the co-development of programs with those who will actually be using it. The federal scheme was developed with significant stakeholder input, unfortunately the same can’t be said of the state scheme to date” said Ms Jenkinson.
Ms Xamon and Ms Jenkinson also noted that is unclear whether the IT systems and interfaces will be completely reworked for consumers in WA.
“If so this may be a costly process and it shouldn’t take funding from service delivery. If WA is to go it alone then there needs to be similar co-development with consumer led organisations” they said
“It is all very well to announce a deal with federal government but as is often the case, the devil is in the detail and Mr Barnett needs to explain to people with disabilities, their families and carers how they will be better off under this deal” said Ms Xamon.
The Greens candidate for North Metro, Alison Xamon together with disability advocate and Greens candidate, Samantha Jenkinson have today reiterated concerns about the Barnett Government’s recent announcement of the deal to have WA deliver a separate WA NDIS model and have called for the bi-lateral agreement, draft legislation and the reviews of the scheme to be made public.
While not saying that the NDIS needs to be delivered nationally there remains serious concerns as to the lack of clarity and transparency around a WA delivered model.
“We have the announcement but there needs to be more information on how various aspects of the proposal may impact on people with disability, their families and their carers” Ms Xamon said.
“The WA Government has decided to develop its own scheme, which means there are likely to be differences between WA and other states caused by separate information technology, data collection and planning. It is important that there is enough consistency in the scheme across the country to allow consumers to access support across the states without being disadvantaged. This was one of the reasons for having a national scheme in the first place.”
Money allocated for capacity building programs to improve access and inclusion for people with disability will be jointly funded but it is unclear whether the shared pool of funds will have the same principles and outcomes as the federal scheme, such as the co-development of programs with those who will actually be using it. The federal scheme was developed with significant stakeholder input, unfortunately the same can’t be said of the state scheme to date” said Ms Jenkinson.
Ms Xamon and Ms Jenkinson also noted that is unclear whether the IT systems and interfaces will be completely reworked for consumers in WA.
“If so this may be a costly process and it shouldn’t take funding from service delivery. If WA is to go it alone then there needs to be similar co-development with consumer led organisations” they said
“It is all very well to announce a deal with federal government but as is often the case, the devil is in the detail and Mr Barnett needs to explain to people with disabilities, their families and carers how they will be better off under this deal” said Ms Xamon.
People with disabilities WA - WA NDIS must be co-designed by people with disability - 5 December 2016
The announcement made on Friday that the state government in Western Australia will operate and administer the NDIS in WA has given some clarity to people with disability, their families and carers. However, it also raises many questions as both models have many flaws and the WANDIS is still a long way from meeting the ideals of choice and control.
“We will be advocating strongly for co-design of the model with people with disability and transparency in what is happening. The official evaluation is still not public and there is already draft legislation for WA for which we have not seen or had any input into” said Greg Madson president of People With disabilities WA.
“Our consultation with people in both WA trial sites showed that there are still many issues that need to be addressed in the WANDIS. Issues such as how planning is done for people with complex needs, and how people can get independent advice for planning.”
“In particular we are very concerned about the lack of independence of the appeals process in WANDIS as the national approach is currently quite different. People with disability want to know that an appeals process will not be subject to signing off by the Director General of the Disability Services Commission.”
Mr Madson calls on the state government and the Minister for Planning and Disability Services to develop an engagement model which uses co-design and allows the diversity of people with disability, their families and carers to have real input into all aspects of the WA NDIS whether it be governance, policy or operational aspects of the scheme .
Contact Greg Madson on 0408 396 333
The announcement made on Friday that the state government in Western Australia will operate and administer the NDIS in WA has given some clarity to people with disability, their families and carers. However, it also raises many questions as both models have many flaws and the WANDIS is still a long way from meeting the ideals of choice and control.
“We will be advocating strongly for co-design of the model with people with disability and transparency in what is happening. The official evaluation is still not public and there is already draft legislation for WA for which we have not seen or had any input into” said Greg Madson president of People With disabilities WA.
“Our consultation with people in both WA trial sites showed that there are still many issues that need to be addressed in the WANDIS. Issues such as how planning is done for people with complex needs, and how people can get independent advice for planning.”
“In particular we are very concerned about the lack of independence of the appeals process in WANDIS as the national approach is currently quite different. People with disability want to know that an appeals process will not be subject to signing off by the Director General of the Disability Services Commission.”
Mr Madson calls on the state government and the Minister for Planning and Disability Services to develop an engagement model which uses co-design and allows the diversity of people with disability, their families and carers to have real input into all aspects of the WA NDIS whether it be governance, policy or operational aspects of the scheme .
Contact Greg Madson on 0408 396 333
No Disadvantage Media Release - December 7
Community members at a fiery public meeting in Swan View last night called on WA's opposition leaders to represent the voices of people with disability who have been left out of decision making processes about the State's new disability scheme.
Disability Services Minister Donna Faragher announced on Friday that the Federal and WA State government had agreed on principles to develop their own disability scheme.
WA is the only Australian state to have rejected the federal model of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the WA government choosing to 'go their own way' based on the perception that 'WA can do it better'.
Furious participants in the scheme said that the best predictor of future behaviour was past behaviour and that the much-lauded WA disability system had previously left thousands of people without support or equipment.
Without details of the proposed 'model', it was impossible for people with disability in WA to know whether it would work for them, whether it represented good value for money or whether it would benefit disabled people rather than governments and service providers.
The No Disadvantage lobby group published a list of comparisons between the two schemes which were largely unfavourable to the WA NDIS.
Convenor Samantha Connor says that the lack of transparency behind the intergovernmental dealmaking was of huge concern to both people with disability and the general public.
''Unlike the NDIS, which had an extensive codesign period and where disabled people and their families were able to look at a proposed model, this deal has been done without people knowing what will happen to them,' she said.
'We don't know what this scheme will look like, nor what the actual cost will be to the WA taxpayer. There are serious concerns that the proposed WA model will leave West Australians with disability worse off - there are marked differences between the two schemes, despite the government's reassurance that they are identical.'
'It's possible that WA could end up with the worst disability scheme in Australia.'
Convenor of the NDIS in WA Peer Support Group, Bronwyn Lines, agrees.
'People are scared. We have fought for five years to have a national insurance scheme,' she said.
'Once again, providers and government are making decisions for us. We need to know the full details of their 'plan', we need to be consulted and we need to have confidence that our government is doing what is right for our people.'
National disability groups such as DPO Australia and National Ethnic Disability Alliance and state based disability groups including People With disabilities WA have raised their concerns over the past few days about the decision and what it means for people with disability and their families, including concerns about the lack of codesign, access to independent appeals processes and lack of choice and control.
Systemic advocates Dr Siyat Hillow and Nihal Iscel said that there were significant issues for people from CaLD backgrounds.
'For most people from CaLD backgrounds, they do not even know what the disability services commission is,' said Dr Hillow.
'How then can they understand the difference between NDIS and WA NDIS?'
People with disability and family members expressed their disappointment in Labor's 'lukewarm response' to the announcement.
'I don't understand why when the NDIS was initiated under Federal Labor, the State Labor isn't supporting a national system,' said one attendee.
'Why isn't this an election issue?'
The No Disadvantage group agrees.
'The Opposition should be calling the WA Government to account, asking for full costings of the scheme, details of the model and demanding accountability and transparency, including releasing details of the proposed model to disabled people and their families,' said Ms Connor.
'We are demanding answers about the details, including appeals, person centred contractual arrangements, self management and other key differences between the schemes.'
Disabled people and family members are strongly encouraged to urgently contact their local MP to discuss their concerns.
Community members at a fiery public meeting in Swan View last night called on WA's opposition leaders to represent the voices of people with disability who have been left out of decision making processes about the State's new disability scheme.
Disability Services Minister Donna Faragher announced on Friday that the Federal and WA State government had agreed on principles to develop their own disability scheme.
WA is the only Australian state to have rejected the federal model of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the WA government choosing to 'go their own way' based on the perception that 'WA can do it better'.
Furious participants in the scheme said that the best predictor of future behaviour was past behaviour and that the much-lauded WA disability system had previously left thousands of people without support or equipment.
Without details of the proposed 'model', it was impossible for people with disability in WA to know whether it would work for them, whether it represented good value for money or whether it would benefit disabled people rather than governments and service providers.
The No Disadvantage lobby group published a list of comparisons between the two schemes which were largely unfavourable to the WA NDIS.
Convenor Samantha Connor says that the lack of transparency behind the intergovernmental dealmaking was of huge concern to both people with disability and the general public.
''Unlike the NDIS, which had an extensive codesign period and where disabled people and their families were able to look at a proposed model, this deal has been done without people knowing what will happen to them,' she said.
'We don't know what this scheme will look like, nor what the actual cost will be to the WA taxpayer. There are serious concerns that the proposed WA model will leave West Australians with disability worse off - there are marked differences between the two schemes, despite the government's reassurance that they are identical.'
'It's possible that WA could end up with the worst disability scheme in Australia.'
Convenor of the NDIS in WA Peer Support Group, Bronwyn Lines, agrees.
'People are scared. We have fought for five years to have a national insurance scheme,' she said.
'Once again, providers and government are making decisions for us. We need to know the full details of their 'plan', we need to be consulted and we need to have confidence that our government is doing what is right for our people.'
National disability groups such as DPO Australia and National Ethnic Disability Alliance and state based disability groups including People With disabilities WA have raised their concerns over the past few days about the decision and what it means for people with disability and their families, including concerns about the lack of codesign, access to independent appeals processes and lack of choice and control.
Systemic advocates Dr Siyat Hillow and Nihal Iscel said that there were significant issues for people from CaLD backgrounds.
'For most people from CaLD backgrounds, they do not even know what the disability services commission is,' said Dr Hillow.
'How then can they understand the difference between NDIS and WA NDIS?'
People with disability and family members expressed their disappointment in Labor's 'lukewarm response' to the announcement.
'I don't understand why when the NDIS was initiated under Federal Labor, the State Labor isn't supporting a national system,' said one attendee.
'Why isn't this an election issue?'
The No Disadvantage group agrees.
'The Opposition should be calling the WA Government to account, asking for full costings of the scheme, details of the model and demanding accountability and transparency, including releasing details of the proposed model to disabled people and their families,' said Ms Connor.
'We are demanding answers about the details, including appeals, person centred contractual arrangements, self management and other key differences between the schemes.'
Disabled people and family members are strongly encouraged to urgently contact their local MP to discuss their concerns.
WA needs our perspective, not theirs - 27 July
http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/opinion/wa-need-perspective-not/
http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/opinion/wa-need-perspective-not/