Report finds 64% of disability sector unhappy with Gov NDIS rollout

A key finding of the report was that while 66 per cent of the sector believe that disability sector policy reforms are heading in the right direction, 64 per cent believe that government are not responding to requirements.

“The State of the Disability Sector report includes a business confidence survey which shows that most disability service providers are cautiously optimistic and plan to grow in the next six months,” said Ken Baker, CEO of NDS.

“But a high proportion think that government agencies are not working closely enough with the sector to implement the NDIS successfully.”

Other key findings of the report were:

38 per cent of all disability workers are casuals, a relatively high rate which is likely to increase under the NDIS
Only 35 per cent of trial site organisations believe that the NDIA is working well with providers to implement the NDIS
46 per cent of organisations report increased income, up from 36 per cent in past surveys
12 per cent expect to enter a merger within the next six months, up from 8 per cent in 2014
Organisations with less than $1 million in turnover reported higher financial stress than large organisations and were more likely to see the NDIS as a risk rather than an opportunity.
Despite the improvements required, Baker considers the NDIS the appropriate avenue for disability sector reform.

“The NDIS is the right destination. It will double the funding for disability support, expand choice for people with disability and their families, invest in early intervention and replace a fragmented inequitable system with one that gives people across Australia access to reasonable and necessary support,” he said.

“But, there are legitimate questions about how we get to this destination and at what pace; and how to turn the ambitious vision of the NDIS into reality.”

The NDS State of the Disability Sector Report 2015 also highlights the need to improve employment opportunities for people with disability.

“Increasing the employment of Australians with disability will require reform and investment. We need a system that enables providers to engage with young people with disability while they’re still at school; that supports diverse job options and career pathways; and that encourages government and the private sector to employ people with disability and purchase from organisations that employ people with disability,” said Baker.

The NDS State of the Disability Sector Report 2015 also provides an analysis of the current issues facing policy makers.

It concludes with a summary of 20 things NDS would like to see accomplished in 2016 to ensure the successful implementation of the NDIS and more opportunities for people with disability to work, be educated and engage in community life.

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