Submissions close tomorrow: Home & Living and Support for Decision Making Consultations, Coronavirus information, Public consultation opens on new legislation, Events, Participant spotlight.
Submissions close tomorrow: Home & Living and Support for Decision Making Consultations
As we plan for the future of the NDIS we want your feedback to ensure it works for you. We are undertaking two consultation processes to inform the development of a Home & Living policy and Support for Decision Making policy. We aim to build a deep understanding of the key topics and issues that need to be addressed in the Home & Living and Support for Decision Making policies. We are seeking feedback on two consultation papers via online surveys on our website:
Consultation paper: An ordinary life at home
Consultation paper: Supporting you to make your own decision
To make a submission visit the Have your say page on our website. You can submit your feedback in a number of formats, including audio and video files: PDF, DOCX, MP3, MOV, AVI. Submissions close tomorrow 5pm AEST 10 September 2021.
Coronavirus information
Getting your COVID-19 vaccine All NDIS participants aged 12 years and over are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. A vaccination will help protect you and your community. It’s free and voluntary. Booking Book in for your vaccination today. To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment:
use the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker on the Department of Health website
contact the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 1800 020 080
find your nearest participating pharmacy COVID-19 vaccinations
talk to your GP and book in for your vaccination today.
If you are deaf, or hard of hearing you can call the National Relay Service on 1800 555 660.
More support for providers enabling COVID-19 vaccination for participants
Since May this year, supported independent living providers have been eligible to directly claim up to $150 to cover costs of supporting NDIS participants to receive the vaccine.
To ensure more NDIS participants are supported to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, on 1 September 2021 we extended this payment to support coordinators and providers who deliver supports in these registration groups:
High Intensity Daily Personal Activities
Assistance in Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports
Daily Personal Activities
Participation in Community, Social and Civic Activities
Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement – effective 26 May 2021.
The $150 is an all-inclusive price that allows eligible providers to organise the best approach for participants being vaccinated offsite. This may include organising:
administration to arrange vaccination appointments including seeking participant consent
transport both ways in a COVID-safe manner
appropriate staff to accompany participants to and from the appointments including remaining with them during the waiting time after the vaccination.
Providers can also claim the actual costs of delivering this support from participant plans, such as transport and support workers, in agreement with the participant. More information on the expanded NDIS provider payment is available at For providers - COVID-19 information. COVID-19 vaccination – disability provider kit The Australian Government Department of Health has created a set of resources designed to help disability providers promote COVID-19 vaccination to their employees. Find them on the Department of Health website. Office closures: In response to COVID-19 restrictions, there are a number of offices closed across Australia. Learn more on our website.
Public consultation opens on new legislation
The Government is continuing to work to create a simpler, faster, fairer and more consistent NDIS that works better for people with disability, their families and carers. The proposed NDIS legislative reforms include:
Legislating the Participant Service Guarantee; and
Implementing the recommendations of the 2019 Independent Review (the Tune Review) of the NDIS Act 2013
Some of the proposed reforms require changes to the legislation. The Government has recently released draft legislation for public consultation, which are proposed to be made law in the coming months. How can you be involved? The Government is committed to consulting with the disability sector and is seeking feedback on the draft legislation. All Australians are invited to have their say. The draft legislation is available on the DSS Engage website for comment, with submissions closing midnight AEDT Thursday 7 October 2021. For a plain English guide of the legislative changes, a Summary of the NDIS Bill and Changes to the NDIS Rules is available. An Easy Read guide to the plain English guide is also available. You can provide a submission to: engage.dss.gov.au or email your feedback to: NDISConsultations@dss.gov.au Submissions close midnight AEDT Thursday 7 October 2021.
Events
Visit the events page of our website to see a list of current events we are running on a range of NDIS topics. Where there are COVID-19 restrictions in some states the events will be held online. You can search for events near you, or on a topic relevant to you. Find an event.
Participant spotlight
Caleb is plating up his dream career thanks to his NDIS supports. 22-year-old Caleb, who has a mild intellectual disability, is on his way to becoming an apprentice chef, with his NDIS supports assisting him to secure regular employment, as a kitchen hand, at the Ballarat League’s Club. From here Caleb will undertake practical studies, enrolling in a hospitality certificate with the goal to build his skills. Learn more about Caleb’s story. Read more about NDIS participants and their stories.