In July 2014, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) [the Agency] opened its doors to the Canberra public charged with the responsibility of introducing the Australian Capital Territory trial of the ambitious and exciting new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) [the Scheme]. The nationwide scheme, being implemented at a number of trial sites around the country was highly anticipated; promising a complete makeover of current disability services so that all eligible people
living with a disability could be better off under the NDIS.
As people eligible for the NDIS and service providers began registering with the Agency, and individuals began to transition to the Scheme there was obviously going to be rapid and major changes to both the sector and individual lives. At this time, WWDACT began hearing anecdotal stories from women and service providers about their experiences with the NDIA’s initial activity.
On March 27th, 2015 an article appeared in the Canberra Times, “Bureaucratic ‘gobbledygook’ fuels National Disability Insurance Scheme”. The article briefly outlined many of the matters voiced at a public hearing before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the NDIS. Most of the issues raised were directly related to the implementation of the NDIS by the NDIA rather than the scheme itself. This was a catalyst for WWDACT to begin an exploratory research study with women
with a disability who had engaged with the NDIA and hear their experience first-hand.
The information provided by the women will be used as a platform to guide further research in this area as the NDIS expands and matures. It will also be fed back to the NDIA to inform their practices and understanding of the lived experiences of women. “Over time, we will find new and better ways of providing support, by building on what works well and learning from the lived experience of people with disability”.
You can read our full report below.
You can also access a short summary video.
The transcript for the video can be downloaded below.