People with Disability in the NDIA

People with disability welcomed to the NDIA

It has been a tumultuous year for the NDIA after former CEO Martin Hoffman and chair Dr Napthine both resigned in July. Mr Napthine’s absence was short-lived as Mr Shorten announced he will be returning to the NDIA board today. The departure of these executives led to calls from the disability community to appoint more people with disability to leadership positions within the NDIA. The addition of Mr Fearnley, Dr Innes and Ms Diamond means the NDIA board features a historic five people with disability, including current members Leah van Poppel and Meredith Allan. Mr Fearnley was full of praise for his fellow board members and he says their experience will greatly benefit people with disability. “I will do everything within my power to engage with the people who I have fought alongside, who I have engaged with for the last decade when it comes to the advocacy of the scheme,” says Mr Fearnley. “We’re also bringing not just my voice, but we’re also bringing Maryanne and Graeme, who bring a depth of experience to the organisation at the Board level, whether it be their advocacy role, or Marianne’s experience of working within the NDIS itself. “This organisation can be what we believe it to be. For now, I just need to take a breath [and] get to know the organisation." Mr Fearnley adds he is looking forward to sitting down with the NDIA Board and getting an understanding of where the NDIS is at and what they can do to improve it.

Focus on building trust

Australia's national peak disability and advocacy organisation, People with Disability Australia (PWDA), hopes to see trust between the NDIS and people with disability rebuilt. Deputy CEO Carolyn Hodges says it is important the new NDIA CEO listens to the experts and provides a wide range of positive outcomes. "Ideally, PWDA would like to see any new CEO concentrate on rebuilding trust between the NDIS and people with disability, their families and supporters," says Ms Hodges. "Too many people with disability have been living in fear of losing the supports they need. "[The NDIA needs to] ensure planning decisions are based on listening to the experts –people with disability themselves and the professionals they chose to support them. "[We also want to see] work to ensure that the NDIS supports high quality and equitable outcomes for a diverse range of participants regardless of their specific disability, location, culture and language groups and/or sexuality." Ms Hodges says PWDA also wants to see a reduction in the number of appeals being taken to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, while ensuring all outcomes are developed and delivered in partnership with people with disability.

Excluding people over 65

“The scheme was designed [for under] 65. I think there’s a challenge for disability care for people over 65.” Minister Shorten stated