Submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Inquiry into Independent Assessments

ME/CFS Australia has made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme: Inquiry into Independent Assessments.

ME/CFS Australia have been at the forefront of the NDIS issues with respect to ME/CFS in recent years. As the peak body, we believe strongly in advocating for the rights of people with ME/CFS to have a full and fair opportunity to access the Scheme where eligible.

ME/CFS Australia have submitted a detailed submission to this Inquiry.

We also acknowledge the work of the ME/CFS & the NDIS Facebook group who also made a strong submission. It is good to see quality representation in this sphere.

About the Inquiry

“As part of the committee’s role to inquire into the implementation, performance and governance of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the committee has decided to conduct an inquiry into independent assessments under the NDIS.

An independent assessment is an assessment of a person’s functional capacity, which will be used to inform decisions about eligibility for the NDIS and about funding in a participant’s plan. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) proposes to introduce independent assessments as part of the NDIS access and planning processes in 2021.”

Terms of reference

As part of the committee’s role to inquire into the implementation, performance and governance of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the committee will inquire into and report on independent assessments, with particular reference to:

  1. the development, modelling, reasons and justifications for the introduction of independent assessments into the NDIS;
  2. the impact of similar policies in other jurisdictions and in the provision of other government services;
  3. the human and financial resources needed to effectively implement independent assessments;
  4. the independence, qualifications, training, expertise and quality assurance of assessors;
  5. the appropriateness of the assessment tools selected for use in independent assessments to determine plan funding;
  6. the implications of independent assessments for access to and eligibility for the NDIS;
  7. the implications of independent assessments for NDIS planning, including decisions related to funding reasonable and necessary supports;
  8. the circumstances in which a person may not be required to complete an independent assessment;
  9. opportunities to review or challenge the outcomes of independent assessments;
  10. the appropriateness of independent assessments for particular cohorts of people with disability, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from regional, rural and remote areas, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
  11. the appropriateness of independent assessments for people with particular disability types, including psychosocial disability; and
  12. any other related matters
Submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Inquiry into Independent Assessments
Scroll to top