Independent Assessments on halt - for Now

After months and months of pressure from the community, the Independent Assessments are on hold.

One of the players that helped put the pressure on was the Independent Advisory Council (IAC).
That Council advises the NDIA Board on issues affecting participants, carers and families. 
They wrote a report and recommended that:

 “All elements of the independent assessment design, including the toolkit and practice guidance, should be designed in partnership with the disability community to deliver flexible approaches to the greatest extent practicable for the most complex participants that do not have supports, have experienced trauma or have complex behavioural support needs.”
 
The IAC also spoke to what many of us have been feeling, which is that there has been a massive erosion of trust between the disability community and the NDIA, government and the disability services system more broadly.
 
 A speech made by the Minister since the announcement to put things on hold gives us all an idea of what’s on her agenda:

• “An assessment model that is consistent with the legislative requirements as set out under the NDIS Act. An assessment model that will deliver a fairer and more consistent scheme. A scheme that delivers more true choice and control.
• we need to build a unified understanding of financial matters and pressures on the system to inform the pathway forward.
• We commissioned further work by senior officials on the cost drivers and underpinning actuarial assumptions of the NDIA ahead of our next meeting in August
• We also agreed to work together to consider amendments to the NDIS Act to legislate a Participant Service Guarantee
• The legislation will further strengthen integrity measures and the draft legislation will be subject to public consultation 
• A new and improved National Disability Strategy will hold broader services and systems accountable to be more inclusive and supportive for people with disability, achieving better outcomes”

 
So be prepared and expect to hear lots more about

• Independent assessments: watch out for news comping think and fast and who is involved and what the processes are- there might be opportunities to contribute 
• Money and the scheme sustainability: there will be loads more backwards and forwards and disagreements and comparing apples with oranges and trying to understand what this all really mean s
• Changes to the NDIS legislation: Let’s watch this space carefully and look out for those public consultations the Minister mentioned in her speech 
• National Disability Strategy: Yeah, any movement and the revamping of the National Disability Strategy would be fantastic, and we would love to see something real happening there (instead of more and more disability specific)

More information and resources about Individual assessments

One of the best and most thoughtful commentary (and not necessarily agreeing with whatever else everyone is saying) was provided by John Walsh, former NDIS Board member and one off the key designers of the NDIA. You can listen to the podcast, read the transcript or read John’ submission to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee.

From the Minister Linda Reynolds
 
Read the Minister's press release that announced the halt to the proposed Independent Assessments 
 
And here is the speech that the Minister made since pressing the pause button, outlining what’s next on the agenda.

From the NDIA
 
Since the pause button has been pressed the NDIA website shifted basically all of their information about Independent Assessments to a section of their website they call ‘History of the NDIS’ (funny how quickly something becomes history). 
 
You find some historical information here https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/history-ndis/independent-assessments-proposal

From the Independent Advisory Council
 
Read the advice that helped put a halt on the assessments Strengthening Scheme Reforms to Access and Planning (July 2210)  

From Every Australian Counts
 
This grassroots organisation (together with most disabled people led organisations) have led the campaign against independent assessment. Their “Hans of our NDIS” Campaign is not just about independent assessment, but also talks about many of the other issues floating about. 
Check out their website ​​