The NDIS is about to turn ten, and a report NDIS 2.0 launched by Get Skilled Access, spearheaded by Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, outlines what’s worked, areas for improvement, and seeks to start a conversation about the future of the NDIS.
The report calls on the Australian government to renew its contract with people with disability. While this may imply that the NDIS needs fixing, Dylan Alcott says that one third of the report is about the positive impact.
“We’ve got to get away from talking about the NDIS as this costly pain in the back-side thing. The NDIS is an awesome scheme that has benefited so many people – 280,000 people in this country are getting support for the first time because if it,” says Dylan Alcott.
Dylan explains how the NDIS works to benefit children:
“It builds capacity in young children so they get be the best version of them, get the support, care, education and independence they need to get out and be the people they want to be. As a result, leading them to get more friends, which creates networks and help them later in life.”
Making friends and having fun is fundamental to childhood and every child has the right to play. A key highlight of the report is the finding that the NDIS has supported many children to make and keep friends, with close to double the number of children now having friends to play with compared to the start of the NDIS.
“Play helps children develop cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being skills. Sharing play experiences with friends helps children to explore their feelings, learn how to express themselves and develop empathy.” Prue Golland, Senior Manager Clinical Governance Therapy Services, Cerebral Palsy Alliance
This is huge in terms of the benefit to community. There are also more than double the number of young adults working 15 or more hours a week since the beginning of the NDIS.
Plus, because of the NDIS, 70% of adults have choice about their supports the first time and control over their life.
Dylan is excited about the future of the NDIS and about putting disability back in the driver’s seat. The NDIS is now disability led; with Kurt Fearnley recently announced as the Chair of the NDIA and other people with a disability now on the board.
Dylan encourages everyone to read the report and to work together to maximise the benefits of the NDIS.
