Ndis, short for National Disability Insurance Scheme, has often been dubbed as a curse by its critics. This government-run scheme, introduced in Australia in 2013, aims to provide support and funding to individuals with disabilities. However, its implementation has been marred with numerous challenges and controversies, leading many to question its effectiveness and impact. One of the primary criticisms of Ndis is its bureaucratic nature. The scheme requires individuals to navigate a complex web of assessments, applications, and reviews, which can be overwhelming for people with disabilities and their families. This bureaucratic process often leads to delays in receiving much-needed support and funding, causing frustration and distress for those in need.
This bureaucratic process often leads to delays in receiving much-needed support and funding, causing frustration and distress for those in need. Another concern surrounding Ndis is the limited funding allocations. The scheme operates on a budget, which means that there is only a certain amount of funding available for each participant.
Weekend Wrap: Morrison’s ”blessing” a curse on NDIS, Barnaby’s Insiders sell off plus wage
Ben Davison looks at Morrison's explanation that his debate response to a mother who's child has had their NDIS support cut that he was "blessed to not have had to go through that" was about the difficulties in navigating the NDIS, rather than a comment about children with a disability. Even if we take Morrison at his word it is, at the very least, a condemnation of his own failure to properly deliver the NDIS.
Plans have been cut by an average of 4%, appeals to the AAT have doubled, foreign private equity backed unregistered and unregulated "platforms" that "connect" workers and participants in, what has been described as, digital sham contracting arrangement are taking 14% margins out of the tax payer funded system.
As the campaigns head into the Northern Territory it is timely to remember that HALF of NDIS plans in the NT have been cut in the last six months.
Insiders discussed in detail the failures of the Morrison government on the Solomon Islands and Ben explores how Morrison spent the end of the week setting up another pork barrel program while refusing to answer questions about Australia's largest foreign policy blunder in the pacific for over 70 years.
Barnaby Joyce was the Insiders guest from the government and he made it clear that their only plan is to let multinational corporations sell our resources overseas. While sitting in Gladstone, where people have to fly to Brisbane to get medical treatments as billions of dollars of resources depart the docks, Barnaby was asked what the government's plan for the future "If they want to buy it we will sell it" was his response.
This ideologically lines up with the findings of two major pieces of work from the Australian Union movement this week.
The ship building company Austal received a Morrison campaign visit and a $124M contract after having been found to underpay its workers. The union, ETU, won the money back but Morrison wouldn't even acknowledge the request for safeguards to prevent this from happening again on government funded projects.
The ACTU released research showing that while 100 countries put limits on the use of "fixed term contracts" Australia is not among that group of 100 nations and that casuals in Australia are being paid up to $350 LESS than ongoing workers doing the same job.
Ben urges everyone to join their union at australianunions.org.au/wow and to put the Liberals last (with a brief explanation of how the ballot papers work)
And catch Van Badham on Today here:
The Australian disability sector is in no way immune to the challenges ahead. People with disability themselves bear so much of the brunt of the worst impacts of the pandemic, with lives at immediate risk and the shortages of medicines, food and other necessary services creating enormous difficulties for people in their daily lives; while service providers face very uncertain times as face-to-face services hang in the balance and operational and staffing pressures mount.
This has resulted in many people receiving insufficient financial support, making it difficult for them to access necessary services and equipment. The lack of adequate funding has also led to concerns about the long-term sustainability of the scheme. Furthermore, there have been reports of inconsistent and unfair decision-making within Ndis. The assessments and eligibility criteria used to determine funding support have been criticized for being subjective and inconsistent, leading to disparities in access to services. This has resulted in cases where individuals with similar disabilities receive vastly different levels of support, creating a sense of inequality. The administrative challenges and issues within Ndis have also had negative consequences on the overall quality of services provided. Many service providers have reported difficulties in meeting the demands of the scheme, resulting in reduced service quality and availability. This has made it even more challenging for individuals with disabilities to access appropriate and timely support. In conclusion, while the Ndis aims to provide much-needed support and funding to individuals with disabilities, its implementation has been plagued with challenges and controversies. The bureaucratic nature, limited funding allocations, inconsistent decision-making, and reduced service quality have led many to view Ndis as a curse rather than a solution. It is essential for the government to address these issues and work towards ensuring a more efficient and equitable implementation of the scheme..
Reviews for "NDIS at a Crossroads: Exploring the Future Challenges and Opportunities for the Scheme"
1. Sarah - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Ndis the Curse". The plot was confusing and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The writing style was also lackluster and I struggled to stay engaged throughout the book. I had high hopes for this novel, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. I would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 2/5 - "Ndis the Curse" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver a captivating story. The pacing was inconsistent and the story felt disjointed. The author introduced several subplots that went nowhere and left me feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, the character development was lacking, making it difficult to feel connected to any of the characters. Overall, I found myself unimpressed with this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I found "Ndis the Curse" to be a tedious read. The writing was confusing and often too detailed, which made it hard to follow the storyline. The author tried to incorporate complex themes, but they were poorly executed and left me feeling confused. I also struggled to like any of the characters as they lacked depth and felt one-dimensional. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book to others.
4. David - 1/5 - "Ndis the Curse" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, with no surprises or twists to keep me intrigued. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Furthermore, the pacing was sluggish, which made the book feel much longer than it actually was. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read.
5. Laura - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "Ndis the Curse" based on the intriguing synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, leaving me frustrated and disconnected from the story. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt contrived. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and lacked finesse. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I was left feeling unimpressed and wouldn't recommend this book.