NDIS Transport

Changes

every 90 days to ensure the NDIS operates effectively with other mainstream service systems.

An NDIS Reserve Fund will be established from the accumulated cash currently in the NDIS.

5. Equitable and consistent decisions

The fifth lane focuses on addressing current inconsistencies regarding decision making. The planned changes could be extremely beneficial for participants and include:

The implementation of independent functional assessments from 1 July 2020. These will be paid for by the NDIA.

The removal of the distinction between core and capacity building. This will enable plan funding to be used flexibly so participants can spend more of their budget.

Extending plan duration even further so reviews are only initiated in line with significant life milestones.

6. Improve long term outcomes

The final swim lane is about improving outcomes in areas such as employment and housing. Planned measures include:

Implementing the NDIS Participant Employment Strategy. While this strategy is great and will ensure employment is a priority for the NDIS, change also needs to come from employers.

Implementing further recommendations around SDA such as allowing eligible SDA participants to live with families or friends who are not SDA eligible.

Seeking to reduce the number of younger people in residential aged care.

The NDIS plan will guide the scheme over the next 12 to 24 months and beyond. The Minister stated that there will be a flexible approach to its implementation. There will be guidance along the way from people with disability, their families, carers and other stakeholders.

The plan is welcome news and shows there are exciting times ahead for the disability sector. It is promising that the Government has listened to feedback about the NDIS and are striving to improve the scheme. While there is a strong vision behind the plan, its success will depend on effective implementation. It will be interesting to see how the NDIS changes over the next 2 years with the plan.

Changes to the NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2019–20 effective 1st March 2020, included participant transport information including the reasonable levels of costs that providers can claim for non-labour transport costs

Benchmark rates of $3.40 per km for specialised transport and .85c per km for vehicle transport were announced by the Minister.

Other items included parking and road tolls.

BigDog is maintaining our current charges.