So Much to Read
Are you feeling like NDIS related news is cascading down way too quickly to keep up with it all? You are not alone. Just in the past week we have seen the release of the NDIS Registration report, the consultation into what makes an NDIS Support, the Early Childhood Intervention discussion paper from PRECI and the government’s response to the Disability Royal Commision. While not all of these things will directly affect our Allied Health Business Owners, the ongoing bumps to the market and impending change – well – everywhere, leaves us all holding our breath.
Let’s review what we know and what we don’t know and see whether we can settle some of those nerves.
The Response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
The long-anticipated government response to the 2-year DRC was… underwhelming. The testimony that was provided during the consultations was at times very difficult listening and reading, one can only imagine the pain experienced by those providing it. The final report made over 170 recommendations for changes. Just 13 were fully accepted by the government.
Of the 13 fully accepted recommendations, many refer to overarching strategy creation and won’t touch Allied Health for some time. Recommendations around employment for people with disability may impact Allied Health Businesses who are supporting people in that area.
To say that the disability community are shattered by the very “beige” response (thank you my colleague and friend for this description, you know who you are), would be a massive understatement. Our disability community have been victimised by systems and predators for too long and deserve a position of priority to promote big and rapid systemic change that enables authentic inclusion and safety.
Personally, and as a clinician, I am most disappointed with the lack of definitive response to segregated schooling which the Australian government has bumped off to the States and Territories to manage. One can assume that this means the current status quo of denying many children with disabilities access to the mainstream classroom environment will be maintained for the foreseeable future. Insert several angry emoji faces here.
You can read the Australian government’s response to the DRC here.
The Release of the PRECI Early Childhood Intervention Discussion Paper on Foundational Supports
Professionals and Researchers in Early Childhood Intervention (PRECI), who have just launched the Review of Early Childhood Intervention have released a discussion paper on the forthcoming Foundational Supports for children. The paper provides excellent context for why this shift towards Foundational Supports is heading towards implementation and covers all relevant policy and strategy touch points.
The paper then discusses key considerations and the key topics for discussion, all of which we have raised between ourselves over the past few months. I suggest that you have a read and determine the feedback that you feel you would like to provide as the consultations begin soon. The paper will give you some idea about what Foundational Supports are set to provide and it’s far broader than therapy alone.
You can read the Discussion Paper here.
The NDIS Registration Taskforce report
We have spoken highly of the NDIS Registration Taskforce in the past and their report did not disappoint. While the recommendation is clearly for the vast majority of NDIS Providers to be registered in some format, it talks to a completely new approach to registration which does not resemble the current system for most providers.
For Allied Health, the Taskforce have recommended ceasing the duplication of registration processes and instead, for AHPRA registration to be largely sufficient for those who have membership. The Taskforce has extended this to Self-Regulating Allied Health professionals with a recommendation for consideration of these disciplines to follow the same process as AHPRA registered professions.
It should be noted that there is likely to be an expectation that all Allied Health Professionals will be required to complete the NDIS Worker Screening check as it acts as a live screening check. We would recommend that Business Owners have their staff complete this regardless, it’s a very good check and is generally a part of good governance. You can also do this as an unregistered provider.
The report speaks to registration requirements being related to the level of risk in the support that is being offered and we have no indication as to where Early Childhood will land. We can assume that Behaviour Support will continue to be considered a high-risk support. Higher risk supports will attract more rigorous registration processes but we have no visibility over what this means.
Registration remains as business as usual until we find out which of the recommendations Government will accept and implement and without doubt investment into the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and NDIS Worker Screening will be required before any significant reform can be initiated.
You can read the full report and recommendations here.
What is an NDIS Support?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No 1) Bill 2024 is the proposed legislation that is currently being considered by parliament.
Part of this legislation includes a new approach to defining what the NDIS funding can and can’t be used to pay for.
The current definition for Therapeutic Supports within the legislation amendment is as follows:
Therapeutic Supports
Description
Evidence-based therapy supports provided to assist a participant to apply their functional skills to improve participation and independence in daily, practical activities in areas such as language and communication, personal care, mobility and movement, interpersonal interactions and community living. This includes funding further assessment by health professionals for support planning and review as required.
Early Intervention Supports for Early Childhood is defined as follows:
Early Intervention Supports For Early Childhood
Description
Provision of a mix of therapies, and a key worker for the family. Supports for all children 0-9 years with developmental delay or disability and their families to achieve better long-term outcomes, regardless of diagnosis.
Specialist Behaviour Support is defined as:
Specialist Positive Behaviour Support
Description
Support provided by professionals with specialist skills in positive behaviour support including assessment, development and delivery of a comprehensive plan that aims to reduce and manage behaviours of concern, and training and ongoing monitoring of staff in plan implementation.
At this stage the proposed changes for what is and what is not an NDIS Support do not seem to be set to affect Allied Health. There are a range of ways that you can contribute to the consultation and you can investigate these here.
Some Last Minute Breaking News
It’s not unusual for me to get many interesting notifications on a standard week but the one sent to me today from one of my physio besties has made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
A ‘Special’ school within my own local area has just sent a letter home to all families letting them know that there will only be one NDIS therapy provider, for OT and Speech, allowed into the school from now on and if families want their children supported with therapy at school then they will have to use the provider that the school has chosen for them.
Yes, these supports will be funded from the children’s NDIS Plan.
If parents want to use a therapist of their own choice they will have to organise that outside of school.
If your supports are the best supports for the children you support, be sure that you are demonstrating that regularly (outcome measures anyone?), because when you are a tired working parent the idea of not having to think about organising therapy for your child who has many support needs and the potential for less travel time being charged to their plan this model sounds like a win. Whether outcomes are achieved, or personalities match, will potentially be less relevant for a while.
Measure, measure, and measure some more, and then TELL EVERYONE.
Where To From Here?
With so much going on the best place for Allied Health Business Owners to be is connected to a community to ensure that you stay on top of news as it breaks. We welcome all to our community in our Facebook Group Allied Health Business Brilliance which you can find here.
Have a read of the documents, keep checking into the community and we will do our very best to keep you up to date.
Oh, and get onto that NDIS Worker Screening Check. If you get stuck, give us a shout. You know where to find us.
