After reflecting on the many forums, meetings and discussions about the NDIS review and the now current bill before Parliament proposing many changes to the NDIS it prompted me to look back through the years leading up to the NDIS and the actual implementation of the NDIS. There was certainly a great energy and a willingness to look at how the scheme could create a better life for people with disability in Australia. The ideas were exciting and new and were central to creating an inclusive world and society for people with disability. Things were looked at from many angles and there really was a true vision. This was very exciting to be part of and when I looked back on different media and different discussions I felt a little sad to think that we had lost this. We really were engaging in codesign and we really did create an NDIS that has made amazing differences to people’s lives. I have been very glad to be part of this process. The networking and sharing and real desire to create change for people with disability has been felt and is evidence of how good the NDIS is. We may have needed to analyse and look at what changes might be necessary to overcome some of the issues that are happening on the ground now – but do we need this Bill and what it is proposing? Do we need the changes that are very drastic and will impact on many people’s lives and create major differences in how they live now. We definitely need to ensure the sustainability of the scheme but can we do it better way? We have been involved in so many think tanks, reform agenda discussions, and general brainstorming sessions linked to some amazing research by a variety of individuals. We need to garner this information and make sure that we are making changes for the good of people with disability in our society. Real inclusion should be at the centre of any decisions that are made. We need to take the politics out of this and make the correct decisions to ensure real supports and real inclusion is embedded in any change that happens.
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It's interesting to look back at the early optimism around the NDIS. There was so much hope that it would revolutionise support for people with disabilities. As the scheme evolves, especially with the current review, it's clear that NDIS plan management continues to play a crucial role in ensuring participants have the flexibility and control they need to manage their supports. Let’s hope the upcoming changes retain that original vision of empowerment and inclusion.
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