The Way Forward – A New Disability Policy Framework For Australia

• A NDIS would provide a lifetime approach to care and support for people with disability and would replace the current arrangements for funding specialist disability services.
• A social insurance model is proposed. It would assess the risk of disability in the general population; calculate the costs of meeting the essential lifetime needs arising out of these disabilities; and estimate the premium or contribution required from taxpayers to meet these needs.
• Instead of funding capped programs and services for people with disability to find and access, the scheme would fund on the basis of each individual’s needs which would in turn drive the development of necessary care and support services.
• The costs of a NDIS could be funded from general revenue or through a Medicare-like levy.
• Implementation should be staged over 7 to 10 years to enable new service infrastructure and workforce to develop, and to balance the constraints of the medium-term fiscal outlook against intergenerational trends.

Who would be eligible?

• People with a severe or profound disability acquired before 65 years of age would be eligible for life. People with a severe or profound disability are those who always or sometimes need help with a core activity or task.
• Carers would also be recognised and supported in their roles and opportunities to combine caring and work would be encouraged.
• People who are covered by state/territory-based accident compensation schemes would continue to be covered by them, however, the interaction of these schemes should be further investigated.
• The scheme would cover the existing eligible population under age 65 years when the scheme starts as well as people who become eligible in the future.

What services and benefits would people receive?

• Coordinated services based on need would provide care and support including respite, aids, equipment, transport, home modifications and a range of community and day programs.
• Other support funded outside the scheme such as income support, housing and employment services would be integrated to provide support and opportunities for people with disability as part of a holistic approach.
• There would be an emphasis on early intervention and access to education and training to maximise long-term independence and potential.

How would the scheme be governed?

• A NDIS would operate under a new National Disability Commission, possibly a statutory authority, with a formal and independent governance model comprising a prudential board of directors to oversee the operation of the scheme and an advisory council of stakeholders to provide policy advice on the appropriateness and quality of the benefits.
• Insurance principles would underpin the new arrangements. In particular surplus premiums would need to be invested to maximise long-term returns, while active claims management, through comprehensive data analysis, research and provider monitoring, would lead to significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

What are the benefits?

• People with disability and their families would have certainty and clarity about options from the point of determination of a disability.
• Eligible people would be entitled to services determined on an individualised plan and needs basis, giving them access to an appropriate whole-of-life suite of services and support.
• Families would have more choices about the combination of work and informal care for family members at various life stages, as in other families.
• The proposed scheme addresses the current unmet and under-met need for care and support and the unsustainable reliance on carers.
• For the first time there would be clear incentives in the service system to invest in timely interventions that promote independence and produce long-term benefits.
• The introduction of a NDIS would provide a sound platform of lifetime support to enable a range of innovative private contributions from individuals and families.