Media Release
Spinal Life Australia is calling for urgent reform to address the growing delays in decision-making within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), warning that these delays are increasing costs for the scheme and putting participants’ health, safety, and wellbeing at risk.
Over the past 12 months, Spinal Life Australia has witnessed unprecedented demand for support in appealing NDIS decisions, or addressing the lack of decisions by the NDIS, with their members reporting delays of up to two years for decisions on critical supports such as personal care, nursing services, vehicle modifications, and housing modifications.
The delays are leaving Australians with disability without essential support that can lead to participants running out of funding entirely, despite flagging issues with the NDIS well in advance.
As of September 2024, figures show there are 680,123 active NDIS participants1, with delays having cascading effects nationwide. In fact, more than half (53%) of current NDIS participants report difficulty accessing services due to long wait times2.
Spinal Life Australia CEO, Mark Townend, says the current decision-making processes are failing NDIS participants and taxpayers alike.
“While some of our members have been waiting up to 18-months for decisions on vehicle modifications, others have been waiting two years for essential housing modifications,” says Mr Townend. “However, the most alarming example we’ve encountered is a participant who ran out of personal support funds six months ago despite notifying the NDIS repeatedly. This is not funding for ‘it’s nice to have things’, the lack of decisions has left them unable to get out of bed or access the care they need to stay safe.”
The delays also come at a significant financial cost to the scheme. Spinal Life Australia warns that by deferring decisions, the NDIS is unintentionally driving up costs through avoidable legal fees, higher equipment costs due to inflation, and increased health risks to participants requiring urgent care.
“It’s a false economy. Delayed decisions don’t save money – they shift and magnify the costs elsewhere,” says Mr Townend. “For instance, deferring approval for equipment or modifications can result in higher costs later, as well as increased pressure on healthcare systems when participants who are able to live at home with support suddenly face hospitalisation through lack of timely decisions by the NDIS.”
Louise Williams, mother of 16-year-old Mikaela, knows all too well the impacts of NDIS delays. Mikaela, who was born with a spinal cord injury, has faced significant challenges due to prolonged decision-making.
“The process to secure funding for Mikaela’s physiotherapy, school support, and access to sport programs has been riddled with obstacles. We’ve spent over a year fighting for funding approval and after 12-months of waiting, our case was escalated to the Administrative Review Tribunal, only to be told we needed to start the application process again. It’s exhausting and disheartening,” Louise shares.
These persistent setbacks have significantly impacted Mikaela’s ability to engage in essential activities and programs that enhance her quality of life. Immediate action is needed to address these systemic issues and ensure the NDIS delivers on its promise to participants.
“We’re heading back to the ‘bad old days’ where participants are forced into protracted battles for basic supports. The NDIS is spending tens of millions of dollars on lawyers while participants go without essential care. This is not what the scheme was designed to achieve,” continues Mr Townend.
The NDIS Participant Service Guarantee sets clear timeframes for decision-making, but achievement against these benchmarks remains poor. Spinal Life Australia is urging the government to implement measures to address these delays, including better resourcing for the NDIS and streamlining decision-making processes to avoid unnecessary escalation and legal costs.
“The NDIS was built on the promise of empowering all Australians with disabilities to live full, independent lives. Right now, that promise is being undermined by bureaucracy and inefficiency. We need urgent action to ensure the scheme delivers for participants and remains sustainable for future generations,” concludes Mr Townend.
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