NDIS review announced, but concerns remain

The government will conduct another review into the NDIS, fulfilling a key election promise.

The federal government is launching its planned review into the NDIS, a year ahead of schedule.

NDIS minister Bill Shorten flagged the review prior to the May election, despite multiple reviews into the scheme in recent years.

The newly-announced NDIS review will be led by an Independent Review Panel, co-chaired by Professor Bruce Bonyhady AM and Lisa Paul AO PSM. The remaining panel members are Kevin Cocks AM, Judy Brewer AO, Dr Stephen King, Dougie Herd and Kirsten Deane OAM.

Congratulations to our Director, Bruce Bonyhady and to Lisa Paul, who have been appointed Co-Chairs of the #NDIS Review. We’re also thrilled that MDI’s General Manager, @NDISDeane, will join the Expert Panel which will provide oversight of the Review. pic.twitter.com/G9BvxYr8QX

— Melbourne Disability Institute (@mdi_unimelb) October 18, 2022

The panel will make a final report to the Disability Reform Ministers Meeting by the end of October next year, including findings and plans for implementation of recommended reforms.

What will the review involve?

As promised before the election, the review will cover the design, operation and sustainability of the NDIS and will be conducted in two parts.

Part one, led by Bonyhady, will consider the design, operation and sustainability of the NDIS while part two, led by Paul, will consider ways to build a more responsive, supportive and sustainable market and workforce, according to the government statement.

Shorten invited “all NDIS stakeholders to engage with the review” and promised to “bring people into the tent”.

“Labor’s NDIS Review will restore the Australian community’s trust and confidence in this critically important scheme. We will take into account what people already said even if it was not acted on previously,” he said.

“It will apply best-practice policy design that supports people with disability through genuine engagement and co-design with people with a lived experience.”

This will include First Nations people, people from CALD communities and different socio-economic groups, and people of all ages, genders and sexualities.

The review will also look into how to remove barriers that stop people with disability from participating in society and the workforce.

Shorten also said that reforms that come out of the review could be enacted sooner than the official final reporting date, if a consensus emerges.

The review will be guided by Australia’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights, Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

How has the sector responded?

Advocates and disability organisations have cautiously welcomed the government’s announcement.

Inclusion Australia warned the review must include people with an intellectual disability in order to be truly representative and inclusive.

“Inclusion Australia recognises the significant experience of the panel members across a range of disability issues, with several members involved in the initial design and implementation of the NDIS,” the organisation said in a statement.

“We welcome news that the review will “work with participants, their families and carers.” However, with around 20 per cent of NDIS participants having an intellectual disability, and over 60 per cent with a cognitive disability, it is critical that people with relevant lived experience are supported to participate in the review. Targeted, accessible, co-designed strategies are needed to ensure the voice and experience of people with an intellectual  disability are heard and taken into account.

Every Australian Counts, the grassroots action group that campaigned for the introduction of the NDIS, tweeted their optimism at Minister Shorten’s announcement.

This review could and should be the exact thing we all need – a REAL chance to take a serious look at the NDIS and be heard, make changes – and finally get the NDIS to work really well.

The review’s website has just gone live – https://t.co/CoVluFWylh. More coming soon…

— Every Australian Counts (@EveryAustralian) October 18, 2022

Advocate Todd Winther noted that the announcement for “another NDIS review”, following so many similar in the past, would be a waste of time if actions were not followed through.

So, here we go with another NDIS review…. so many reviews. The Scheme is in obvious need of repair, Shorten has picked a good panel who knows what is needed, so does the NDIA, and it’s Board… 1/

— Todd Winther (@toddocracy) October 18, 2022

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Ben Gauntlett urged “all stakeholders” to have their say in the review.

It is important to all Australians that all stakeholders take the time to engage with the #NDIS review.

More details can be found at: https://t.co/5rMSZ4AE5L. It is pleasing the review will be guided by Australia’s commitments under the #CRPD and Australia’s Disability Strategy. https://t.co/QJyunESXfo

— Ben Gauntlett (@BenGauntlettDDC) October 18, 2022

Minister Shorten and the Review Panel chairs will be speaking at a webinar on Thursday 20 October. For more information, visit the website.