
We recently released our report on the results of the Survey on the NDIS Review, have a look at the results, and watch our forum to find out more.	View in browser

15 April 2024

A graphic with a group of Activists from the Defend our NDIS Campaign. Below the image is red text that reads:

Community Response to the NDIS Review

To our Every Australian Counts community,

Last week we released the results of our community survey where you expressed your views about the NDIS Review recommendations. We received over 1,300 responses and nearly 2,500 individual comments, and we combined this with your feedback from our community forums.

This report is critically important because it finally gives us a voice. You can download the report on our website here.

While the survey shows support for initiatives that have the potential to improve the NDIS and to make mainstream services more accessible, serious concerns were raised with respect to some key recommendations.

The strongest concerns were expressed in relation to restricting our choices to providers who are registered or enrolled and to discriminate against people who need 24/7 support, by requiring us to share our supports with 2 other participants.

These NDIS Review recommendations were seen by many in our community to violate the basic principles of the NDIS we fought for: choice and control, self-determination and individualised support. It's why we called the report "Defend Choice and Control".

EAC has heard these concerns. We will continue to oppose any changes that unfairly restrict our right to be in control of where we live, who we live with, and who provides our support.

We will also work hard to collaborate with the government to support the good stuff and stop the bad stuff. It's going to take all of us working together to be heard.

It's time to take action - here's what you can do...

There is a lot you can do now to raise your voice and be heard.

Make a submission to the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce by the 28th of April 2024 and register for one of their roundtables. Let them know why having choice and control over who provides your supports is important to you. The Self Manager Hub has this helpful guide to making a submission.

You can also learn more about the taskforce by watching my interview with members of the taskforce below.

Make a Submission to the Taskforce

Book a meeting with your Federal Member of Parliament

It's important that your representative in our parliament is aware of your concerns with the NDIS Review, so email your local Federal MP, explaining your concerns and ask for a meeting to talk about the proposed changes to the NDIS.

Keep in mind that local members receive a lot of requests, so if you don't hear back for a week, call their office and ask them when you can expect a meeting. We recommend asking for a meeting in May as by then we will have more information to share with you about the new legislation that has been introduced to Parliament.

Find your Federal MP here

Have your say on the changes introduced for parliament
In March, the government introduced new legislation into Parliament to start making the changes that were recommended by the NDIS Review. We have been busy talking to experts in the law to understand what they mean. We also want to hear from you about your concerns.

So far, we have received advice that there aren't enough protections in the law for NDIS participants. We will provide more information in our next newsletter including a podcast explaining the key changes. There is a Senate Inquiry already underway and you can make a submission raising your concerns about the proposed changes to the NDIS by the 17th of May 2024.

Make a submission to the bill inquiry

In case you missed our community forum…

On the 8th of April 2024, we held a community forum to discuss the findings of our report. There were over 200 people in attendance, with our community sharing their thoughts and experiences. Thank you to everyone who joined us and for sharing your concerns. It was a very moving and memorable session.

You can view the recording of this forum below.

Listen to our Deputy Chair on ABC Radio

Deputy Chair of Every Australian Counts, Nick Avery spoke to ABC Radio about our report and our community's response to the NDIS Review recommendations.

A photo from the ABC Radio page. it has the NDIS sign at the front of the building, and a symbol that says 'listen 3m 59s'

Listen Here

Welcome Kevin

During the forum, we were also excited to introduce Kevin Stone AM, our new EAC Campaign Director. Kevin has a long history in Disability Advocacy, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. We look forward to working with Kevin and his team to ensure that we can make the NDIS the best it can be.

Spread the word!

Before I go, if there are people that you know who want to join our community to help us defend the NDIS, please send them this newsletter and ask them to sign up here as a supporter of Every Australian Counts.

By growing our community of supporters, we strengthen our voice and our ability to defend our NDIS.

Thank you for your continued support for Every Australian Counts and please check out the news coverage and the voices of our community in the stories below.

Kind regards
Dr George Taleporos
Independent Chair
Every Australian Counts

‘Outrageously scary’: NDIS participants fear proposed changes will give them less choice and control

Many who use the NDIS disagree with the mandatory registration of disability workers, saying it could block their access to support.

People with disability and their advocates have expressed palpable fear about the proposals, including in a new report from Every Australian Counts

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Disability community says no to key NDIS review proposals

The disability community is revolting against key recommendations in the NDIS review, with a survey by leading advocacy group Every Australian Counts finding nearly 70 per cent of respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the proposal to make provider registration mandatory.

The Thumbnail for the Reasonable and Necessary Podcast

Reasonable and Necessary Podcast Deep Dive into the NDIS Review Part 1

What happened to Choice and Control?
In this 1st part, the panel examines mandatory provider registration and the recommendation that participants who need 24/7...

The NDIS Review makes me "So angry and scared" - Sarah Petersen

The NDIS Review has recommended all support workers be registered providers. This makes me so angry and scared. I have experienced

Watch Here

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We won’t let the NDIS review take away our right to choose – An open letter to Bill Shorten

Douglas Fogg is a NDIS participant with a passion for making technology inclusive and accessible. Douglas used AI technology to generate the photo above and has written an open letter to Bill Shorten....

NDIS review: Regulation does not keep people safe. People keep people safe!

Linda Hughes is president of the Self Manager Hub and parent of an NDIS participant. Together they self manage and directly employ support workers. Here Linda describes some of the problems with the changes proposed by the NDIS review...

Too Much About Us Without Us: Psychosocial Disability and the NDIS Review

Muriel and Neil share there perspectives on the changes proposed by the NDIS Review for participants with psychosocial disability.

The NDIS Review housing and living recommendations are "outdated and unethical"

According to Peter, the NDIS Review recommendations are bureaucratic overreach that intrude into people’s lives and do not align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD).

Every Australian Counts

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