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Joint media release: Disability sector organisations raise the alarm on NDIS market failure

AHPA has joined forces with National Disability Services The CEO Collab, Disability Intermediaries Australia (DIA) calling on the Australian Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency to take urgent and immediate action to ensure services for people with disability can continue, as evidence mounts of a catastrophic market failure in the NDIS.

Media Release

12 July 2024

Disability sector organisations raise the alarm on NDIS market failure

An alliance of peak bodies and organisations across Australia representing all parts of the disability services sector is calling on the NDIA and government to take urgent and immediate action to ensure services for people with disability can continue, as evidence mounts of a catastrophic market failure in the NDIS.

Withdrawal of services will most affect participants who have the greatest need for supports – those with complex, high-intensity or behavioural support needs and those in regional and remote Australia.

Following the recent announcement of a totally inadequate Annual Pricing Review by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), provider representative organisations are raising the alarm that providers of quality and responsive disability services are already reaching breaking point.

Since the pricing announcement an increasing number of providers are saying that they will not be able to continue providing supports to people with disability.

The wellbeing and safety of people with disabilities must come first but inadequate funding for quality services is putting this at risk.

Quality providers are committed to ensuring services remain available to people with disabilities but can no longer afford to subsidise the costs. Financial reserves, often built up over decades with the support of local communities, are dwindling as providers struggle to make ends meet. The NDIA’s approach to pricing is undermining the ability of registered providers to deliver quality, sustainable disability services and is undermining NDIS reform.

The organisations called for immediate steps to address the crisis in the disability service sector, including:

  • Increase prices for support coordination (level 2 and 3) and therapy at least in line with wage increases in the Disability Support Worker Cost Model
  • Reinstate high intensity payments for behaviour support
  • Implement a loading for all registered providers of at least 1 per cent

These first steps are essential to getting the NDIS on the pathway towards a financially sustainable model of service provision.

Statements attributable to supporting organisations:

  • National Disability Services (NDS) CEO Laurie Leigh said “We knew the impact of the Annual Pricing Review would hit the sector hard, but the feedback we’ve received from providers shows that it’s been catastrophic. NDS has been overwhelmed with providers saying they are reconsidering their future in the sector.”
  • Disability Intermediaries Australia (DIA) CEO Mr Jess Harper said “The NDIA’s Pricing decision is simply indefensible. Keeping price limits fixed for half a decade despite inflation, award wage increases, and operating cost pressures is irresponsible and reckless. This pricing decision has already resulted in the closures of safe, quality, and skilled service providers.”
  • Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) CEO Bronwyn Morris-Donovan said “We know that our speech pathologists, occupational therapists and many other types of allied health professionals are deeply committed to supporting NDIS participants to live the best lives they possibly can – to the extent of personally absorbing some of the costs the NDIS refuses to pay for and the increased expenses due to the cost of living. But after five years of not even so much as indexation of therapy support pricing against inflation, our sector has reached breaking point.”
  • The CEO Collab is extremely concerned by the recent Annual Price Review, seeing this as a major loss for participants and registered providers, and forcing many reputable providers to cease services. We call for the reinstatement of the high intensity payment for participants with complex behaviour and the 1% temporary loading.

For AHPA media enquiries please contact Suzie Medhurst 0448 958 682

 

ENDS

AlliedHealth    CEOCollabDIA        NDSlogo

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Anita Hobson-Powell appointed as Chief Allied Health Officer for the Department of Health and Aged Care

Today the Hon Mark Butler MP  the appointment of Anita Hobson-Powell as the new Chief Allied Health Officer for the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Anita has been instrumental in the allied health sector and holds a longstanding affiliation with AHPA. Anita brings deep industry experience and a strong understanding of regulation to role.

We very much look forward to working with Anita in her new capacity as CAHO and congratulate her on this appointment.

You can read the Department’s media release here.

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AHPA Insider August 2023: HRAOL – Why implement policies and procedures in the workplace?

Policies and procedures, when written well, provide the right framework for a business’ entire operation.

They provide many benefits which may include:

  • Insights into company values and ethical standards.
  • Clarity of behavioural and performance standards expected of all employees.
  • Rules and guidelines for decision-making in routine situations.
  • Provide consistent and clear responses across the company to address various situations.
  • Demonstration in good faith that employees will be treated fairly and equally.
  • Clearly outlines the procedure of dealing with complaints and misunderstandings fairly.
  • Framework for delegation of decision making.
  • A means of communicating information to new employees.
  • Protection from breaches of employment legislation.

Importantly, having workplace policies and procedures in place is only useful if they have been properly implemented, can be widely accessed, and are continuously monitored.

Procedures are different from policies in that they provide a step-by-step guide on how to perform a certain task or operation in a business.  It is important that both managers and employees understand the correct process when performing a task or operation to ensure that the service or product is maintained at the highest quality. Procedures also assist in the reduction of delays and mistakes.

Policies are a Company Statement outlining standards of behaviour or limitations.  Policies typically cover any legal or ethical concerns related to a type of business or employment situation. Policies help protect employees from making decisions that could lead to both personal and company legal repercussions.

Policies and procedures should provide for the physical and emotional safety of employees. A well written procedure will include proper safety clothing to be worn, proper use of equipment, and a step-by-step guide detailing how to perform the task safely. These procedures help prevent serious injury or death. Additionally, companies often have policies against bullying, harassment and workplace violations as a way of reducing the number of incidents and managing the associated risks.

For assistance with policies and procedures or for any HR matter, please contact us at advice@hradviceonline.com.au or 1300 720 004.

Information in HR Advice Online guides and blog posts is meant purely for educational discussion of human resources issues. It contains only general information about human resources matters and due to factors, such as government legislation changes, may not be up to date at the time of reading. It is not legal advice and should not be treated as such.