Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, reaffirmed the Government's focus on improving the NDIS at a key gathering of disability ministers.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Disability Reform Council met on the Gold Coast in Queensland on 28 June, and disability ministers endorsed measures to improve the delivery of the NDIS.
Ministers agreed to action on a number of long-standing issues including:
- the endorsement of a National Hospital Discharge Plan to reduce hospital stays of NDIS participants when they clinically no longer need to remain in hospital
- resolution of boundaries between the NDIS and other health-related services provided outside of hospitals, and
- funding arrangements for children with disability living in accommodation outside the family home.
Minister Robert said The National Hospital Discharge Plan jointly commits the NDIA, DSS and state and territory governments to take action in resolving discharge delay issues.
"All ministers also agreed to measures to improve access of NDIS participants to a range of disability-related health supports which are provided outside of the hospital setting," Minister Robert said.
The NDIS will fund specific disability-related health supports where the supports are a regular part of the participant's daily life, and result from the participant's disability.
Minister Robert affirmed the Commonwealth's election commitment to legislate a NDIS Participant Service Guarantee.
This will be informed by a review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, which will be undertaken during the second half of 2019 in consultation with people with disability, their families, supporters and state and territory governments.
Read the Disability Reform Council Communique.
