DisabilityCare Australia

1. DisabilityCare Australia The National Disability Insurance Scheme 12 September 2013 Chairman Bruce Bonyhady AM

2. Overview Productivity Commission report Establishment of DisabilityCare Australia 10 Key Features of the NDIS Launch update What you should do to get ready for the NDIS Conclusions Questions and discussion

3. Background-PC Report The Productivity Commission Report in July 2011 concluded that “The current disability system is underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient, and gives people with disability little choice and no certainty of access to appropriate supports” Today, Australia ranks at the bottom of the OECD in terms of the proportion of people with disability living at or below the poverty line, in the bottom third in terms of employment of people withy disability and carers of people with disability have one of the lowest levels of well-being of any group in Australia and twice the rates of financial stress, physical illness and 50% have experienced a mental illness at some time A National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) should be established progressively between now and 2018/19 to provide reasonable and necessary support to all Australians with a significant permanent disability under age 65 which affects self-care, mobility, communication or self-management and requires significant on-going support Alongside the NDIS, a National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) should be established to cover new people who acquire catastrophic injuries and provide an umbrella for existing compensation schemes. This remains a work in progress

4. Background-PC Report

5. Establishment of DisabilityCare Australia Following the Productivity Commission Report, governments spent nearly two years further developing and refining the design of the NDIS through COAG Launch sites in NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania were agreed in late 2012. The National Disability Insurance Act ( 2013) passed in March In May the then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, proposed an increase in the Medicare Levy of 0.5% to part fund the NDIS and this received overwhelming endorsement from the community. DisabilityCare Australia is the organisation which has been established to manage the roll out of the NDIS. It opened it’s doors on 1 July. DisabilityCare Australia is a statutory authority with its own board and reports to a Standing Council of Disability Ministers and Treasurers from all jurisdictions. In the recent election campaign all parties strongly supported the NDIS. Maintaining government, disability sector and public confidence in the NDIS is an over-riding priority of DisabilityCare Australia.

6. 10 Key Features of the NDIS (1) 1. The NDIS is governed by the NDIS Act (2013) which sets out clear Objects for DisabilityCare: • Australia’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability is the first Object; a fair go • Social and economic participation • Insurance Scheme-not welfare builds on experience with workers’ compensation, TAC • Replaces the NDA (CSTDA), which was “capped” did not have any entitlements, and recognises a central role for the Commonwealth, as well as States 2.Insurance Scheme • Governance cycle; Forecast versus Experience • Scheme Actuary will play a central role • Minimising costs/ maximising opportunity over a lifetime, unlike welfare and so aligned to individual and family goals • Investing in individuals and research • Insurance companies as forces for social change

7. 10 Key Features of the NDIS (2) 3.Control and Choice • DisabilityCare will fund individuals/families not service providers • Power with individuals and families • Need for informed choice • Market place leading to efficiency and innovation • But this will also be a huge structural adjustment for disability service providers, some of whom will need assistance with transition and this has already started 4.Eligibility • Australian citizens, under age of 65, then care for life • Permanent Disability • Significant impact on mobility, communication and / or self care • May be of a chronic episodic nature • Early intervention

8. 10 Key Features of the NDIS (3) 5.Assessment and Planning-Based on: • Lifetime goals and planning, as the starting point • Functional needs, not type of disability, although that is important for permanence and prognosis • A recognition that needs change and support at transition points is particularly important 6.Participant Benefits • Benefits to include care and support, equipment, therapy, home and car modifications but not services better provided by other systems • Investment approach in individuals’ personal, social, material and knowledge capital • Invests in families by nurturing and supporting them in their caring roles • “Reasonable and Necessary”-will require knowledge of the participant and their family and very careful judgements by the Planner • People with the same level of disability may receive different amounts! Note: • Any entitlements to the DSP will not be affected by the NDIS

9. 10 Key Features of the NDIS (4) 7. DisabilityCare is responsible for developing and regulating a new market place • Consistent national regulation will replace State regulations-simpler • Contestable market to nearly quadruple • Consistent national regulation will lead to more national providers • Specialisation • More collaboration and creativity as well as competition • New entrants, especially for-profit providers, but NGOs have advantage of incumbency, social mission and fund raising • Workforce training and development a priority • Expanded role for Disability Service Organisations

10. 10 Key Features of the NDIS (5) 8.Demand driven system/not capped; end of mean rationing and focus on opportunity, with Commonwealth shouldering its responsibilities: • Based on entitlement • Responsibilities as well as rights • Funded 52% by the Commonwealth, 48% by the States, compared with NDA, which was 80% State funded • Commonwealth to meet 75% of new costs of $8 bill • Medicare levy increase to fund $3.2 bill out of additional cost, with 25% of this to be allocated to the States to help them meet their share of new costs • Disability was the centrepiece of the Budget this year with a 10 year Commonwealth funding plan • Underwriting by the Commonwealth, if actual costs exceed forecast 9.Local Area Coordination • Centrepiece of new system; embedded in community and a civic society • LACs based on 25 years successful experience in WA • Highly decentralised and local solutions • Encouraging mainstream as well as specialised responses

11. 10 Key features of the NDIS (6) 10.Other roles and responsibilities for DisabilityCare Australia • Work closely with and not take over roles of “universal” and complementary systems like health and education • Building community awareness and inclusion of people with disability • Undertaking and promoting research • Some funding for “ cost of capital” for housing. Discussion paper due next month.

12. There are currently 6 launch sites being established over the next 3 years On 1 July 2013, the first stage of DisabilityCare Australia commenced in • South Australia (ages 0-14) • Tasmania (ages 15-24) • The Hunter in NSW and • The Barwon area in Victoria The ACT, NT (Barkly Tableland) and WA will join the first stage of the scheme on 1 July 2014 Currently 7 offices and headquarters will be in Geelong.

13. By June 2016 each participantin launch sites and groupswill have an individual plan and budget for supports Details of the roll out of the full scheme will be agreed by 1 July 2015, based on the experience of launch. DisabilityCare Australia is rolling out the NDIS carefully, because it is a hugely complex change and need to get it right.

14. DisabilityCare Australiawide gateway includes website,information products and other service entry points • Wide audience for information • Broad website content for all Australians and for those seeking to become participants including My Access Checker • Call centre and regional offices • Community forums • Information to support inclusion of people with a disability in community and work • Information products for prospective participants • Access request kit • Information products for participants • My planning kit • My plan implementation kit • Will continue to develop material to advise and update people with disability, families, carers and service providers

15. The first two months • The DisabilityCare Australia received over 1,000,000 hits • The website now attracts around 2,000 unique visitors each day • DisabilityCare Australia has responded to more than 13,000  general enquiries • More than 25,000 people have visited My Access Checker  with almost 6,000 completing it • More than 1,500 people visited DisabilityCare Australia shopfronts. • Over 1,700 appointments for planning sessions made • Majority of visitors sought general information about the scheme • Those who have had their first planning session reported a high level of satisfaction with the process

16. NDIS: Getting Ready-Start Planning NOW • Use My Access Checker to check eligibility • Developing a plan will be central. What are the major changes you would like to see under a NDIS and what is reasonable and necessary in your situation? • Will my son/daughter need help in exercising control and choice? • Who is asking similar questions to you/your son/daughter so you can create the networks to help make informed choices? • Who, where, when and with whom to live? How will you find stable, accessible housing? • As a carer, what are your needs, goals and aspirations? • How will you start building new informal support networks (siblings, extended family and friends) as these are also important safeguards • Register at the Disability Care website at www.disabilitycareaustralia.gov.au

17. Concluding Remarks • The NDIS represents a transformational change • It is the biggest social and economic reform since the original Medicare scheme and compulsory superannuation • It has enormous public support and so has managed to translate the community’s latent support for one of the most disadvantaged groups in Australia into strong practical support • Enormous amount of careful policy work has brought us to the point we are today, where DCA is beginning a staged and careful roll-out in four sites, with a further three from July next year • This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and there are lessons from the advocacy for the NDIS for anyone interested in large public policy reform • Now the focus is on implementation, which will involve managing some significant risks, but the Board and management of DCA are ready for this challenge so that the NDIS cements its place as core government policy • Critical to this will be a new culture of learning within a sustainable insurance framework, which puts people with disability, their families and carers at the centre

18. Keep up-to-date by registering at www.disabilitycareaustralia.gov.au • Questions and Discussion