1. The individuals assessing the applications need to have a thorough knowledge about the disabilities impacting people who are applying to get on to the NDIS
2. The NDIS should be taking into consideration supporting evidence from all allied health professionals, and not just the registered professions. E.g. at present the supporting evidence from a speech pathologist and social worker is not as heavily weighted as supporting evidence from an occupational therapist
3. The whole application process would be easier for people, if they had available access to individuals in the community who can step them through the process including a) educating around eligibility b) explaining the application process c) assisting with application paperwork d) supporting through preparation for planning meeting d) attending planning meeting e) linkage with a support coordinator for ongoing assistance
1. Support should be available for people prior to engaging with the scheme to navigate the application and planning processes
2. Support coordinators should have a minimum qualification in disability services / allied health in order to best support people with complex needs, navigating a complex system
3. Allied Health therapists working in this space should have the necessary qualifications to work with specific disabilities e.g. there is no point in an individual with an acquired brain injury being referred to an occupational therapist that has no experience in this area, as the risk is, the individual's funds will get eaten up and the therapy they receive will not be specialised to their disability deficits.
In my experience, the terms reasonable and necessary have for the most part, been explained well.
There needs to be some flexibility in how these terms are defined however, as what is considered reasonable and necessary to one individual, may not be to another due to supports available, level of disability etc.
1. Support coordinators should be required to hold a minimum qualification (Cert in disability services, or allied health degree). They must be able to recognise the significant importance of referring individuals to therapists that understand their specific disability needs, in order to obtain best outcomes for individuals living with a disability.
2. NDIS should provide additional funding for participants living in rural and remote areas, to enable them to travel for therapy if it is not available in their immediate locality
1. Individuals who are providing support to navigate the scheme must have formal qualifications in disability care, or allied health. Without this knowledge, I fail to see how they can support the individual to access the supports required specific to their disability.