Australia’s national disability insurance scheme: looking back to shape the future

Abstract

Scheme (NDIS) provides a once-in-ageneration opportunity to transform how people with a disability are served. Similar to the enactment of the Disability Services Act 1986, which challenged the segregation and supported the integration of people with a disability into community settings, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 is expected to fundamentally disrupt traditional service practice and improve disabled people's lives. This paper identifies some lessons from the previous reform of 1986 to guide policy makers, people with a disability, their families and service-providers, as they implement the NDIS now. It reflects on what it takes to make change and what can be expected to remain essentially the same regardless of the disruption that the NDIS will bring. It concludes that if the lessons of the past hold true, the NDIS will require several decades of intentional leadership and capacity-building to achieve enduring, positive change.

Perspectives of the National Disability Insurance Scheme: participants’ knowledge and expectations of the scheme

“…The NDIS defines a new era in disability service delivery across all Australian states and territories because it heralds the marketization of disability services delivery in Australia . Foster et al [2016] and Kendrick, Ward, and Chenoweth. [2017] for discussion on the challenges of equitably implementing the 'reasonable and necessary' proviso within a person-centred framework).…”

“…This shift in national policy and practice context demands that organisations re-invest in capacity building-for individuals and families, as well as their workforce-knowledge development, and community partnerships to sustain quality client services. Further, it has been suggested that the ambitious goals of the NDIS will only be achieved if this capacity building and investment in families as well the disability service workforce is longstanding over decades (See Kendrick et al [2017] for six lessons that can affect the success of the NDIS). Specifically, organisations will need to understand how self-direction policy can be implemented and sustained in practice.…”

2018 Janson Piloting a novel capacity building tool with early intervention practitioners ADVANCE PRE PROOF.pdf

“…The training indicated that action and agency can be embedded into the design of a tool -enabling inspiring goals to emerge. These experiences will underlie the crucial actions for families to take as they become empowered as stressed by Kendrick, Ward and Chenoweth (2017), and start fresh conversations with professionals.…”

From Criminalisation to Individual Choice: Policy Responses to Changing Constructions of Intellectual Disability in Western Australia

“…This approach provides a framework for the discussion in this paper. Discussion also explores the relationship between contemporary ideals of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), introduced in Australia in 2013, to provide a positive change for people with a disability (Kendrick, Ward & Chenoweth 2017) and the physical and intellectual legacy of previous policy.…”