A position report of the NDIS costs was published by the Australian Productivity Commission in June 2017. The 69 pages report was aiming to review the implementation of the NDIS and outline current & future barriers as well as possible solutions for improving the scheme's long term sustainability.

A full report is available on : http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/ndis-costs/position/ndis-costs-position-overview.pdf

After reading the full report GRS would like to highlight following aspects to help you to have a glimpse of the NDIS progress so far.

1. Key points from report summary:

a. Rollout challenges

''the speed of the NDIS rollout has put the scheme’s success and financial sustainability at risk.... It has resulted in the NDIA focusing too much on meeting participant intake estimates and not enough on planning processes, supporting infrastructure and market development.

This focus is manifest in poor outcomes such as confusion for many participants about planning processes; rushed phone planning conversations; inadequate pre-planning support for participants; problems for providers with registering, pricing and receiving payment; and a lack of effective communication with both participants and providers.

For the scheme to achieve its objectives, the NDIA must find a better balance between participant intake, the quality of plans, participant outcomes, and financial sustainability. Steps are now being taken by the NDIA to better balance these aspects. Greater emphasis is needed on pre-planning, in-depth planning conversations, plan quality reporting, and more specialised training for planners.''

The summary confirms our concern regarding the potential shortfall of services for NDIS participant due to the planners' limitation on knowledge of individual circumstances to develop a personalised plan which has taken consideration of comprehensive medical and personal information as well as disability service availability. We believe the quality of the NDIS plan is the most critical part of the success of the scheme.

There is also additional date outlining the slow transition from the current disability service to the NDIS that the transition rate will be picking up after mid 2017 and potentially peak at mid 2019 after the implementation of the NDIS for 12 months in the last state. Here we suggest individuals who are eligible for the NDIS to register and proactively participate in making your first annual plan while the number of participants is still relatively low- which means the NDIA likely has better response speed to meet your needs when compared to the later stage while more people are trying to apply for the scheme.

b. Potential shortage of disability care workforce

''A significant challenge is growing the disability care workforce required to deliver the scheme — it is estimated that 1 in 5 new jobs created in Australia over the next few years will need to be in the disability care sector. Present policy settings are unlikely to see enough providers and workers as the scheme rolls out. Some emerging shortages need to be mitigated by better price monitoring and regulation; better tailored responses to thin markets; formal and informal carers allowed to provide more paid care; and a targeted approach to skilled migration. ''

GRS noticed that there are not many disability services in Tweed-Byron area

offering high quality, home based therapeutic support to the NDIS participants. There is a huge demand of skilled workforce to offer innovative, affordable community based service for suitable NDIS participants. Fortunate enough we have a team with well trained, experienced clinicians with high enthusiasm to deliver personalised & goal orientated disability support to help more individuals with disability to be more independent and confident with their everyday life.