The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is totally committed to delivering the full National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as quickly as possible and sustainably, NDIA chairman Bruce Bonyhady said today.
Mr Bonyhady’s comments came as the NDIA released a paper, prepared by KPMG, which explores some of the issues around the NDIS transition to full scheme.
Mr Bonyhady said the paper was released as he and NDIA chief executive David Bowen prepare to embark on an extensive round of engagement with the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and peak disability groups.
“What this KPMG paper does is identify some of the lessons from the trial sites to date together with some of the complexity surrounding rollout to full scheme. It is one of the many inputs, which will be considered as we start to talk to our stakeholders about the best way forward,” Mr Bonyhady said.
“One year into the NDIS trial phase, there’s a wealth of good solid data from the trial sites which will be of huge assistance as we build a strong and sustainable NDIS. All of this information means the Agency is in a strong position to have a mature, informed and consensus-building discussion about the optimal way to transition to the full NDIS and building the scheme to last.
“At my National Press Club address last week, I flagged many of the issues the Agency is working through as it learns and builds a world’s best practice scheme,” Mr Bonyhady said.
“As I said at the National Press Club, we have sought a range of expert advice and opinions on how the full scheme rollout should occur, including commissioning KPMG to provide a report into the risks and opportunities.
“This is just one of many inputs being considered in preparation for our discussions with States, Territories and peak bodies. Once we’ve had these discussions, in coming months we will be providing advice to Government on the transition to full scheme.
“We are committed to getting the NDIS right, both for those waiting on it now, and for future generations.
“Build the scheme up too fast and allow demand to out-strip supply, and we risk failure by driving up costs through inflation and lowering service quality. Build it up too slowly and we will also fail people with disability, their families and carers.”
View the KPMG paper KPMG paper.