It is anticipated that approximately 16 000 to 20 000 people
with hearing impairments as their primary disability will join the NDIS by
2019-2020. This will represent a small cohort within the Scheme (less than 3%
of NDIS participants). However the introduction of the NDIS has undoubtedly had
a disruptive effect on what is broadly recognised as international best
practice in the support provided to deaf and hearing imparied. Some extremely
concerning issues have emerged and need to be resolved to ensure deaf and hard
of hearing people continue to receive world class services.
An interim report
In March 2017, the committee delayed finalising its report
pending release by the NDIA of (a) key operational guidelines for access
criteria to the Scheme for deaf and hard of hearing people and (b) baseline
reference packages to guide plan development for early intervention services.
The NDIA had indicated to the committee that it would release the guidelines
and packages by the end of April 2017. While the NDIA released guidelines for
access criteria on 1 September 2017, the early intervention packages remain
outstanding. Without definitive information about the early intervention
packages, the committee cannot report and make considered recommendations. This
is a cause of great concern for many families, the hearing sector and this
committee.
The committee has therefore decided to release an interim
report while it awaits the release of the packages. This interim report focuses
on the access criteria to the Scheme and the issues pertaining to access and
delivery of early intervention services.
Access criteria
Until now, there has been a lack of clear access criteria to
determine eligibility to NDIS services for deaf and hard of hearing people.
This has caused great uncertainty for future access to services and supports
for deaf and hard of hearing people, especially for newly diagnosed infants and
children. The committee is relieved that clear guidance to determine access to
the Scheme has finally been articulated and publically released by the NDIA.
However, the committee is frustrated it has taken so long.
Based on the evidence received to date, the recently released
access criteria for early intervention requirements for deaf and hard of
hearing people aged 0-25 appear to be technically consistent with the current
practices of Australian Hearing, and are therefore broadly welcomed by
stakeholders. In regards to the access criteria for those 26 years or older,
the committee is concerned that the requirements may leave some people not
eligible to the Scheme despite their need for reasonable and necessary
supports.
Early intervention services
The committee is also concerned with the disruptions to
early intervention services that have occurred since the introduction of the
NDIS. The NDIS is failing to streamline intervention services: from referral
pathways, to access and funding of services for newly diagnosed participants.
Guided pathways to ensure families could engage as early as
possible with services that meet their needs have been lost. It is a clinical
fact that timely early intervention for deaf and hard of hearing children
produces optimal results, yet evidence of delays to access therapies is
mounting. Confusion, absence of guided advice, lack of choice and control over
access to services, are regularly reported by families and carers. Inadequate
and underfunded NDIS plans are commonly awarded to children, and as a result opportunities
for children to be taught to communicate as well as any other child (with
spoken or signed language) are being lost. The committee believes it is
critical the NDIA addresses these issues as a matter of urgency. The
introduction of a guided referral pathway is necessary to ensure no delay
between diagnosis and commencement of therapies. Appropriately designed and
funded early intervention reference packages must also be implemented.
Recommendations and next steps of the inquiry
The committee has made a number of recommendations in
relation to the matters discussed in this interim report. The committee intends
to release its final report once the NDIA has introduced its early intervention
reference packages. In addition to discussing the appropriateness of the
packages, the final report will discuss the other issues raised during the
inquiry not reported in the interim report. The committee will continue to
consult the hearing sector as required until the committee completes its
inquiry.
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