Integration or Isolation

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The $22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has left one-third of participants feeling no better off and vulnerable, a new report has found.

Researchers from Flinders University have recently released a report evaluating the effectiveness of the new NDIS, concluding that for the majority of participants the system works, but 10-20% feel “worse off”.

Gini Scott, mother of 16-year-old Archie who suffers from Marden-Walker syndrome, worries that despite an increase in providers, carers who aren’t well equipped for planning will be left behind in this new system.

“I think there’s a lot more choice but there’s so much more work. So for us we were fine in the old system, we’re fine in the new system as well but had I not been an English speaking person with a decent education and years of being in the disability world anyway, I would find it completely overwhelming.”

Flinders University researchers conclude that the NDIS works best for people who can “strongly advocate for themselves”.