Kelly Vincent – 5RPH Interview on the Issues Concerning the NDIS
18/03/2016
On Wednesday 9th March 2016, Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent was interviewed on radio station 5RPH to discuss Dignity for Disability’s views on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Here is the audio and transcript from the interview.
Richard Morgan: Once again we welcome to 5RPH, Dignity for Disability MLC Kelly Vincent. Hi Kelly
Kelly Morgan: Hi Richard
Richard Morgan: Kelly, last Friday state and federal disability ministers met here in South Australia. Now there’s been a lot of controversy over the structure and term of appointments of the NDIS board in the past 6 months and possible interference of the federal government’s disability minister in how the board will be structured into the future. What do Dignity for Disability think about the board composition?
Kelly Vincent: Well Dignity for Disability certainly believe that the board needs to be led by people with disabilities and have a balance of people with a lived experience of disabilities, social justice and understanding of disability services as well as business knowledge. And there have been some concerns expressed to Dignity for Disability that people with disabilities could be left behind, in terms of influence on the board if these proposed changes to the structure are made and the fact that we have a once in a generation reform to the disability sector happening here through the NDIS and there is a risk of the voices of we people with disabilities being left behind, it is a great concern. So, when considering the board makeup, it’s really important that we remember the catch cry nothing about us without us. The suggestion that knowledge of business is more important than lived knowledge of what it mean to live with a disability is absolutely ridiculous and should be refuted, absolutely. Bureaucracy and business interests dominating led to our current shambles of a disability system. So to fix that through the NDIS, we seriously must listen to people with disabilities and our family carers if we want to get the NDIS and its governing board right.
Richard Morgan: Now there is often speculation about whether the NDIS once at full rollout is going to blowout in numbers and cost. Are Dignity for Disability concerned that the disability community will be let down yet again by the system and do you believe both the state and the commonwealth governments will honour their funding promises?
Kelly Vincent: Well Richard, I think most Australians now realise how important the NDIS is in terms of being a massive reform of the disability services and support sector. Any level of government that shy’s away from its responsibilities and commitments, or passes the buck will be met with fiery opposition from dignity for disability and I believe the broader disability community as well, and rightly so. We really need to remember that ultimately the national disability insurance scheme is supposed to be about insuring that people with disabilities and our family carers are finally able to fully participate in our society and our economy. As workers, as business owners, even going to the shops, attending social occasions and events, and so on. Finally having the support to live their life without choosing. So, the money laid out to enable this to happen, will to some extent have to be saved. Be saved in other ways by government once the scheme is fully operational and that’s what the productivity commission report into the NDIS had initially showed, is that after a few years the investment in the NDIS will be regained because we will have greater participation of people with disabilities and also family carers in the workforce and in society. So we really need to look at this as an investment in the future of all Australians lives and that’s why it needs to be led by the people with that experience.
Richard Morgan: Finally Kelly tonight, how is the rollout of the NDIS to children and young people here in South Australia going?
Kelly Vincent: Well, to put it lightly Richard it certainly has been a bit of a mixed bag. Thankfully, it has started progressing again with the new bilateral agreement allowing the NDIA to keep processing children and young people, who have been basically on the waiting list for services under the NDIA for some time because of the back log that was created by the bilateral not being signed. However, there are many families who have children who were accepted in the scheme some 18 months ago but are still waiting for their planning meetings. So we really hope that the NDIA are actively recruiting staff so that we can continue to ease this substantial backlog and some of those families have become very despondent while waiting to get a planning meeting. Of course, because if go in without the supports that you or your child requires to meet their full potential and them to be independent that can lead you to be quite despondent. So, we’re hopeful that with the bilateral now being signed, things will be able to move forward quickly. But look I do have regular meetings with the staff at the National Disability Insurance Agency here at the state level. So, always happy to hear any questions or concerns that I can take to those representatives and seek a response.
Richard Morgan: Kelly, thanks for talking with us tonight.
Kelly Vincent: It’s a pleasure. Thanks Richard.
