National Advocacy Collective’s statement on the NDIS Bill

This statement was written by the National Advocacy Collective.

Where it says ‘we’ it means the National Advocacy Collective.

This statement is in Easy Read.

Hard words are in bold.

We explain what they mean.

It is a good idea to read this statement with support.

The National Advocacy Collective or NAC was started in 2022 to support the rights of parents with an intellectual disability.

NAC is made up of:

• Parents with an intellectual disability and their supporters

• Disability advocates

Advocates are people who speak up for people with disability

• Disability researchers

Researchers are people who look into disability and try to find ways to make things better.

• Other supporters and allies.

NAC is very worried about the changes the Government wants to make to the NDIS.

These changes are called the NDIS Bill.

The NDIS often focuses on supporting children with disability.

But parents with disability need support too.

We are worried that parents with an intellectual disability will be worse off if the NDIS changes happen.

People with an intellectual disability should have the same chance to be parents and care for their children.

This is part of the NDIS goal of helping people live an ordinary life.

But parents with an intellectual disability are more likely to be involved with child protection services.

Child protection services is a part of the Government that looks into child safety.

This goes against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD).

The UNCRPD is an agreement between countries to protect the rights of people with disability.

Recently a case went to the Administrative Review Tribunal where a parent with disability wanted parenting supports through the NDIS.

The Administrative Review Tribunal or ART is a special court that looks into decisions made by Government services like the NDIS.

Parenting supports can be things like:

• Step-by-step help with parenting

• Learning parenting skills

• Help talking to services like Centrelink or child protection services.

The ART agreed that:

• Parenting is an important part of life for people with disability

• Parents with disability should be supported

• Parenting supports should be funded in the person’s NDIS plan.

We think the Government must listen to the ART when making decisions about parenting supports in a person’s NDIS plan.

What we think about the Bill

NAC does not think the Government should pass the NDIS Bill.

NAC is worried about the Bill because:

• The Disability Minister should not decide how much money is available for each type of NDIS support

• The NDIS must look at the whole person and not just one disability when deciding if a person should get NDIS support

• The Bill must not stop people with disability getting the supports they need

• The Government must look at what the changes mean for families and not leave families worse off.

NAC also thinks the Government must:

• Look at how NDIS parenting supports are being used

• Make sure NDIS decisions are fair for everyone

• Train NDIS staff on the rights of parents with an intellectual disability.

One parent said:

“My support workers help me go to visits with my kids.

They help me understand better about being a good mum and looking at things through my child’s eyes.

If the NDIS cuts my funding it will be very hard because my children live far away from me.”

Sue said:

“If my NDIS funding gets cut I will not be able to leave my house or see my daughter unless she comes to my home or nearby.”

One parent said:

“I get support to help me go to Child Protection meetings and assessments.

I feel more secure having support at Child Protection meetings.

I will need more support to look after my new baby and for when I get my kids back.

If the NDIS cuts my funding it would be very sad because I will not get support anymore.”

Romeo said:

“If the NDIS cuts my funding I will lose support to see my children.”