All 45 Recommendations
Recommendation 1.
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency ensure immediate access to funding for all assessments required to support applications for reasonable and necessary supports, and in particular to support applications for Supported Independent Living.
Recommendation 2
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency clarify the assessments required to support an application for Supported Independent Living funding.
Recommendation 3
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency implement measures to ensure that all evidence provided by a participant to establish that supports are reasonable and necessary is accurately recorded in the participant’s plan, and is actively considered in plan development.
Recommendation 4
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement a mechanism to confirm a participant’s eligibility for Supported Independent Living prior to the participant identifying a suitable vacancy.
Recommendation 5
The committee recommends that planners be empowered to authorise a price range for Supported Independent Living (SIL) funding, with no need for further approval so long as a SIL quote falls within that price range, on the condition that the participant and/or their plan nominee is able to review the SIL quote and approve it.
Recommendation 6
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency, develop and publish clear, comprehensive guidance material on Supported Independent Living as a matter of urgency.
Recommendation 7
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency ensure that its planners fully explore current and future accommodation and support needs with participants during pre-planning, planning and plan review.
Recommendation 8
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency implement measures to further streamline and expedite quote approvals for Supported Independent Living as a matter of urgency.
Recommendation 9
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement mechanisms to prioritise and expedite approvals for Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation for people with disability in residential aged care, hospital settings, and the criminal justice system.
Recommendation 10
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency clarify whether a provider may continue to claim for supports delivered under a plan while a review of that plan is underway.
Recommendation 11
The committee recommends that additional funding be made available in plans for short-term accommodation, for participants seeking to access Supported Independent Living.
Recommendation 12
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) develop and implement a mechanism to ensure that participants have the opportunity to review and agree to quotes for Supported Independent Living before they are approved by the NDIA.
Recommendation 13
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency ensure that its work to improve the Supported Independent Living quoting tool and quoting process takes into account:
• the costs associated with supporting participants with higher or more complex needs;
• the costs associated with supporting participants in thin market areas; and
• all relevant Fair Work decisions.
Recommendation 14
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency review the ‘simplified’ quoting tool for Supported Independent Living, to allow providers to make minor changes to a quote based on changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme pricing structure that have occurred since the quote was approved.
Recommendation 15
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency establish a central point of contact for all inquiries relating to Supported Independent Living.
Recommendation 16
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement a mechanism to provide updates to providers on the progress of Supported Independent Living quotes.
Recommendation 17
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency progress the recommendations made in the committee’s report, NDIS ICT Systems, as a matter of urgency.
Recommendation 18
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency review its existing policies and procedures, to ensure that participants needing assistance with daily living are given genuine choice as to whether they access supports in a shared or individual living arrangement.
Recommendation 19
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency give all participants living in congregate settings, who receive Supported Independent Living funding, the opportunity to review their accommodation and support arrangements and to exit the congregate setting if they wish to do so.
Recommendation 20
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency review and, if necessary, amend the Supported Independent Living quoting tool, to ensure that it allows participants to choose the people with whom they share a residence to the greatest extent possible
Recommendation 21
The committee recommends that additional funding be made available to support participants seeking to exit congregate living arrangements.
Recommendation 22
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission implement additional oversight measures for participants in group living arrangements.
Recommendation 23
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission develop clear policies and guidance on vacancy management, with a focus on ensuring compatibility between tenants in shared accommodation and ensuring participant involvement in
the vacancy management process.
Recommendation 24
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency implement a mechanism to separate service delivery, tenancy management and support coordination for participants in Supported Independent Living settings.
Recommendation 25
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency, with the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission, implement a mechanism to ensure participants accessing Supported Independent Living are able to change providers without compromising housing security or suffering other adverse consequences.
Recommendation 26
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop a central register for participants seeking to identify vacancies for Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Recommendation 27
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency establish a specialist team dedicated to vacancy management.
Recommendation 28
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement processes to streamline the approval process for participants who need funding for both Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Recommendation 29
The committee recommends that, if a participant is approved for Specialist Disability Accommodation involving on-site overnight assistance, funding for Supported Independent Living (SIL) be automatically approved, on the condition that the participant and/or their plan nominee is able to review the SIL quote and approve it.
Recommendation 30
The committee recommends that, if a participant exits a Supported Independent Living arrangement, funding for that participant continues at a 50 per cent rate for a period of one month or until the vacancy is filled— whichever is sooner. At the end of that month, a review should be conducted to determine whether additional funding is required.
Recommendation 31
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency conduct a review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Price Guide and associated price settings to ensure that the additional costs associated with supporting participants with complex needs, including in Supported Independent Living settings, are adequately captured.
Recommendation 32
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and publish clear policy and guidance on when providers may claim above the benchmarks set out in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Price Guide.
Recommendation 33
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement mechanisms to ensure providers are immediately notified of any changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Price Guide or associated price settings.
Recommendation 34
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency review the National Disability Insurance Scheme Price Guide, to ensure that the costs associated with attracting, training and retaining staff to deliver supports to people with severe or complex disability, including in Supported Independent Living settings, are adequately captured.
Recommendation 35
The committee recommends that providers within the National Disability Insurance Scheme invest in additional training for support staff involved in the delivery of Supported Independent Living services and supports for participants with higher or more complex needs.
Recommendation 36
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement a streamlined mechanism to expedite the processing of claims made by service providers for increased supports provided to participants.
Recommendation 37
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop and implement a mechanism to streamline plan reviews for participants accessing Supported Independent Living in shared living arrangements.
Recommendation 38
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency actively works to address thin markets, and ensures that work to address thin markets in regional, rural and remote areas captures both Supported Independent Living and Specialist Disability Accommodation.
Recommendation 39
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency publish a clear and comprehensive policy on provider of last resort arrangements and crisis accommodation as a matter of urgency.
Recommendation 40
The committee recommends that the Commonwealth, states and territories, through the Disability Reform Council, progress work to understand and address gaps in the availability of advocacy and decision support services as a matter of urgency.
Recommendation 41
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency, working with the Australian Government, publish and distribute additional information on the availability of advocacy and decision support services.
Recommendation 42
The committee recommends that the Australian Government increase funding for advocacy and decision support initiatives, to ensure that these initiatives reach the broadest range of people who require these services.
Recommendation 43
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency, with the Quality and Safeguards Commission, develop and publish service standards specifically for the delivery of Supported Independent Living services.
Recommendation 44
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency and the Quality and Safeguards Commission take a more active role in monitoring the quality of services in residences where Supported Independent Living is delivered, to ensure that participants and advocates can readily identify and address concerns with service quality.
Recommendation 45
The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency, with the Australian Government, develop, publish and implement a clear strategy to address coordination issues between state and territory services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, particularly for people with disability seeking to access Supported Independent Living supports.