1.1
The Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (the committee) was established by resolution of the House of Representatives on 4 July 2019 and by the Senate on 22 July 2019. The committee is composed of five members and five senators, and is tasked with reviewing:
(a)
the implementation, performance and governance of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS);
(b)
the administration and expenditure of the NDIS; and
(c)
such other matters in relation to the NDIS as may be referred to it by either House of the Parliament.
1.2
The committee is required to report after 30 June each year on its activities and is empowered to report on other matters as it sees fit.
1.3
The committee is also able to inquire into specific aspects of the NDIS.
On 10 December 2020, the committee decided to conduct an inquiry into independent assessments under the NDIS, with particular reference to:
(a)the development, modelling, reasons and justifications for the introduction of independent assessments into the NDIS;
(b)the impact of similar policies in other jurisdictions and in the provision of other government services;
(c)the human and financial resources needed to effectively implement independent assessments;
(d)the independence, qualifications, training, expertise and quality assurance of assessors;
(e)the appropriateness of the assessment tools selected for use in independent assessments to determine plan funding;
(f)the implications of independent assessments for access to and eligibility for the NDIS;
(g)the implications of independent assessments for NDIS planning, including decisions related to funding reasonable and necessary supports;
(h)the circumstances in which a person may not be required to complete an independent assessment;
(i)opportunities to review or challenge the outcomes of independent assessments;
(j)the appropriateness of independent assessments for particular cohorts of people with disability, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from regional, rural and remote areas, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
(k)the appropriateness of independent assessments for people with particular disability types, including psychosocial disability; and
(l)any other related matters.
Conduct of the inquiry
1.4
The committee advertised the inquiry on its webpage, and invited relevant stakeholders to make a submission to the inquiry by 31 March 2021. The committee also granted multiple requests for extensions to submit to the inquiry.
1.5
The committee received 402 submissions, including confidential submissions. Public and name withheld submissions are listed in Appendix 5 and are available on the committee's webpage.
1.6
The committee held 8 public hearings dedicated to the inquiry into independent assessments, as listed below. Some hearings included evidence that was taken wholly or partly via videoconference/teleconference, allowing for interstate witnesses and committee members to take part remotely where travel was not practicable or possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Melbourne on 23 April 2021
Canberra on 27 April 2021 (Western Australian witnesses)
Canberra on 5 August 2021
1.7
Witnesses who appeared at the hearings are listed in Appendix 6.
1.8
Transcripts from all the committee’s hearings for this inquiry, along with answers to questions on notice, are available on the committee's webpage.
Structure of the report
1.9
This report is divided into nine chapters. The committee has decided to focus on a number of general themes arising in evidence, rather than comprehensively outlining all matters that the committee learned during the course of the inquiry:
Chapter 1 (this chapter) provides information about the work of the committee during this inquiry;
Chapter 2 provides a background to independent assessments;
Chapter 3 outlines what the 2011 Productivity Commission report and the Tune Review said about independent assessments;
Chapter 4 sets out the rationale provided for introducing independent assessments;
Chapter 5 discusses concerns raised in evidence about tools and assessors;
Chapter 6 focuses on the major concerns raised by people with lived experience of disability and their families about independent assessments;
Chapter 7 presents some of the other key concerns raised about independent assessments;
Chapter 8 examines research on what the committee considered some of the next steps should be; and
Chapter 9 sets out the committee's view and recommendations.
Notes on terminology and references
1.10
The committee acknowledges that there are a variety of terms used to reflect the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities. In this report, the term 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' is used, with respect.
1.11
The committee also notes that some submitters and witnesses may refer to NDIS participants and other people with disability as 'clients' of particular services. This report may use the term 'client' when quoting from a submission or a hearing transcript. Otherwise, the report uses the terms 'participant', ‘person with disability' and ‘people with disability', with respect.
1.12
The committee further notes that there are a number of terms used to refer to participants who have autism. The report uses the term 'autistic participants' and 'participants who have autism', with respect.
1.13
All references to Hansard transcripts are to proof versions, unless otherwise noted.
Acknowledgements
1.14
The committee thanks all those who contributed to the inquiry by lodging submissions, providing additional information and expressing their views via correspondence. The committee would also like to thank those who gave their time to attend the committee’s public hearings. Interest from the disability sector and from people with lived experience in giving evidence at public hearings was strong, and the committee thanks the many organisations and individuals who registered their interest in appearing at a public hearing.
1.15
In particular, the committee acknowledges the people with disability, their families and carers who shared their experiences. The testimony of people with lived experience is crucial to identifying issues with the NDIS and improving the operation of the scheme.