National Disability Insurance Scheme Report

BY DANIELLE RIES

A new report into the National Disability Insurance Scheme has found a problem involving pricing, which could affect the Hunter region.

According to the report released by a University of NSW research team, the pricing system doesn't cover the entire costs of disability support, therefore, failing to provide high-quality services.

Another key finding suggests the pricing system doesn't include the training or further development of the disability support in the workforce.

Branch Secretary of the Australian Service Union for New South Wales, Natalie Lang says the government pressure on the NDIS is unacceptable.

"The NDIS has been fought for by people with disabilities and alongside them all long as been a dedicated workforce.

"Its unacceptable now because of pressure by government policy in terms of pricing, that that dedicated workforce is having to make decisions about whether they can continue to live on the terrible wages of the NDIS".

She also says the Hunter region is heavily involved with the NDIS.

"The Hunter region is significantly involved with the role out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. A lot of the participants currently under the NDIS are living in the Hunter region. And the workforce has now been working under the NDIS scheme for a decent period of time.

"So we've been able to look at the workforce and service delivery in the area to get a pretty comprehensive snapshot of what life is like under the National Disability Insurance Scheme".

Credit- National Disability Insurance Scheme official website 

Disability Services Minister Under Fire Over Hunter Visit

BY IAN CROUCH

The Public Service Association has described as disgraceful a decision by the state's new Disability Services Minister to meet with big business instead of the disabled community during his visit to Newcastle.

The PSA says Ray Williams spent yesterday's visit talking up the profit making possibilities from the National Disability Insurance Scheme to business leaders.

The union says the minister missed a golden opportunity to find out exactly how the rollout of the scheme is affecting disabled people, their carers and support workers.

NSW Disability Services Minister Ray Williams

NDIS Portal Failures Stressful for Disability Service Providers

BY BRIDGET GUNN

A glitch in the new National Disability Insurance Scheme portal has been catastrophic for Hunter-based disability service providers.

The portal, which the providers are paid through, has not functioned properly since July, which has left some smaller businesses close to bankruptcy.

NDS Chief Executive Ken Baker says this blockage of funds is preventing disability services from providing their usual standard of services.

"Before the new portal was launched it should have been thoroughly tested with service providers, the people who are going to use the portal, as well as participants of the scheme," says Baker.

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the agency is working very hard on trying to fix the problems but its been very slow, its been prolonged stress on providers and uncertainty for people receiving services."

Source: NDIS