“Confusion and distrust”: The disability community on the NDIS overhaul
4/23/202615 min
The government says the NDIS has drifted too far from its original purpose, has grown too fast and too loosely, and that it now needs a major reset.
Health Minister Mark Butler says the changes, which will see eligibility tightened, participants reassessed and 160,000 people booted from the NDIS are about making the scheme sustainable and pulling it back to the people it was originally designed to support.
But for people with a disability, families and carers, the language has done little to calm anxiety – because this is just not a crackdown on fraud and dodgy providers. It's a change to who gets support, how that support is judged and what happens to people who no longer meet the new test.
Today, Australian Autism Alliance co-chair Jenny Karavolos on the government's NDIS overhaul and why it's causing so much apprehension across the community.
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.
Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram
Guest: Australian Autism Alliance Co-Chair Jenny Karavolos
Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMark Butler· Soundbite0:00
[piano music] Now these are all hard decisions, but they're unavoidable and they're urgent and I'll be seeking passage of these immediate spending controls in the budget session of Parliament. We'll be working together- The government says the NDIS has drifted too far from its original purpose, has grown too fast and too loosely, and that it now needs a major reset The NDIS, remember, was established to support people with significant and permanent disability, but its scope has expanded to cover many Australians with less significant support needs. The Thriving Kids reform that- Mark Butler says the changes which will see eligibility tightened, participants reassessed, and one hundred and sixty thousand people booted from the NDIS are about making the scheme sustainable and pulling it back to the people it was originally designed to support We can't afford for the NDIS to continue growing at its present rate. But far more importantly, we can't afford for the NDIS to fail. Part of the challenge that we- But for people with a disability, families and carers, the language has done little to calm anxiety because this is not just a crackdown on fraud and dodgy providers.
Daniel James· Host1:11
It's a change to who gets support, how that support is judged, and what happens to people who no longer meet the new test. I'm Daniel James and you're listening to 7AM. Today, Australian Autism Alliance co-chair Jenny Karavolos