Carers are struggling to use the National Disability Insurance SchemeA Carers SA review of the three-year National Disability Insurance Scheme trial for disabled South Australian children reveals that the people who use it are often overwhelmed by its complexity.
FEDERAL disability scheme participants find it difficult to use, struggle to access services and face increasing waiting times in regional areas, a review has found.
A Carers SA review of the three-year National Disability Insurance Scheme trial for disabled South Australian children reveals that the people who use it are often overwhelmed by its complexity.
Carers SA Chief Executive Officer Rosemary Warmington said the review showed the daily struggle for carers to get the information and answers they needed about how to successfully navigate the NDIS.
“Unfortunately the process of getting the information required remains complex, and given
they’re already in situations that make them vulnerable, adding additional layers or barriers is
proving to be challenging and highly stressful,” she said.’
The review, based on the views of 120 carers and 20 carer-service providers, follows last week’s agreement between the Commonwealth and the State Government to expand the funding scheme.
One of those who took part in the study, titled The Carers NDIS journey in South Australia, was Mary, mother of 7-year-old autism sufferer Benjamin, of the Adelaide Hills.
Mary said while the NDIS was an improvement because many previously expensive services were now funded, increased demand had led to long waiting times.
Also under the confusing system it had taken two years and three different schemes offered for her son by the NDIS to get the proper occupational therapy and psychology services, she said.
“If you don’t use the right words or language or have a planner who understands your child’s
disability, it makes it very challenging,” she said.
“Before NDIS we used private healthcare funding to get services which were previously unavailable.
“So for us the system is better, but there is a problem trying to get the services because so many people have the NDIS funding now and we have to travel a long way to get on a waiting list for services.’’
But Premier Jay Weatherill, who has been a strong supporter of the NDIS since its inception, said more than 6000 jobs would need to be filled under the scheme in SA, including 900 allied health therapists, 550 mental health nurses, 400 direct care workers, 1600 organisational support workers, 1500 personal assistants, 800 case managers and 600 local area co-ordinators.
“Some people have already transitioned into disability care and the NDIS will provide many more opportunities for those who work in declining industries,” Mr Weatherill said yesterday.
Mary said the system had improved but still had major problems, such as NDIS funding having limited application is schools.
“Education is still a big issue and Ben has to be home schooled,’’ she said.
Others of those interviewed for the Carers SA report said their inability to prepare adequately for their child’s NDIS plan because of a lack of information left them feeling as if they had failed them.
Almost two third of carers who took part in the consultation reported feelings of anxiety and depression and this sense of failure.
Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent said the challenges posed by the education system continued to be a problem in the NDIS.
“It is not a straightforward matter of a child being able to receive therapy services under the NDIS at school because in some cases there is physically no space for therapists to work with students,’’ she said.
www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/carers-are-struggling-to-use-the-national-disability-insurance-scheme/news-story/b81ba2736d568b36a1a6db922e83be20
