Audit Objective
This is the second report on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We tabled The National Disability Insurance Scheme: Report 14: 2017–18 on 3 May 2018.
The objective of the audit was to assess how effectively the Queensland Government is managing the transition to the NDIS and how well prepared it is to oversee services after the transition to NDIS.
The audit scope included a separate line of inquiry examining the effectiveness of the supports for those clients/potential clients of the NDIS who have impaired decision-making capacity. This report contains the results of that examination.
Overview
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is one of the largest public policy reforms ever implemented in Australia. It gives people with disability greater choice and control over the supports they can access in their NDIS plan, and over who provides them. Some people with disability may need help accessing the NDIS.
The is the second report on the NDIS. We tabled National Disability Insurance Scheme (Report 14: 2017–18) on 3 May 2018.
Recommendations
The Public Trustee
We recommend that the Public Trustee of Queensland:
1. review its complaints management policies, guidance, and training materials to align with the new NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework
The review should cover providing support to its clients (within the limitations of its legislative functions) to recognise when they have the basis for a complaint and how the complaints process works.
The Public Guardian
We recommend that the Public Guardian:
2. review its complaints management policies, guidance, and training materials to align with the new NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework
The review should cover:
- providing support to its clients (within the limitations of its legislative functions) to recognise when they have the basis for a complaint and how the complaints process works
- considering referrals of complaints from or on behalf of NDIS participants about service providers under the NDIS National Quality and Safeguarding Framework
- working with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on client data-sharing arrangements.
The Department of Justice and Attorney-General
We recommend that the Department of Justice and Attorney-General:
3. analyses the adequacy of the resources allocated to ensure people with impaired decision-making capacity are effectively supported in getting timely access to the supports available from the NDIS
The analysis should determine the resources necessary to:
- effectively manage the initial increase in applications in (2018–19 and 2019–20) to QCAT for the appointment of the Public Guardian for a matter
- support people appointed a guardian in accessing the supports of the NDIS for the period of the appointment (maximum of five years).
The Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors
We recommend that the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors:
4. develops a statewide strategy to support people with disability access the NDIS.
The strategy should include consideration of:
- the role of advocacy in supporting access to the NDIS
- actions to reduce the pressures on the guardianship system
- the results of the current review of the National Disability Advocacy Program to identify opportunities to improve coordination of Commonwealth and state-funded services.
