Inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative and NDIS Changes

Hi @Jynx 

I know several older people who say that they were better off under the pre-NDIS state and local council schemes

Apparently after Thriving Kids, adults with psychosocial disability are being transitioned to state government schemes

I'm in Victoria where ALP dominates. Other states will have different outcomes with LNP in power more often

Hi @Till23 @avant-garde @NightFury @BPDSurvivor @Shaz51 and others. We wouldn't mind hearing your input.

Whilst it may not affect you directly, I'm wondering thoughts? Anyone you know who may be affected? Children, grand children, children you work with?

I'm open to hearing others' perspectives.

Sorry @tyme I can't really say anything about this topic as I have no children, hence no grandchildren.

I do know it's very worrying for older people that if you are not on NDIS by 65, you just get aged care, which apart from being much lower services, now you will need to pay a large amount for any non-medical things such as showering, tolileting etc ie Activities of Daily Living (so basic human functions). People will have to decide health v eating.

I have overwhelming worked with adults in my healthcare roles and in last few years pretty much only adults, so can't comment.

Thank you for this thread. No one has really asked our opinion.. they just sorta of said "Here you go. Here are the changes"

As a teacher, I have a lot of concerns with NDIS in general. I'm not so fussed about the change to Thriving Kids as it's really just a name change to me. - for now.

The current NDIS early childhood intervention allows children under 6 to access support WITHOUT a diagnosis, and children under 9 WITH a diagnosis. 

The issue I'm seeing day in day out is that so many families are waiting for therapy for their kids. So the funds are there, but they cannot access the support in a timely manner.

What happens is that parents then search up anyone local. And lo and behold, a lot of these people are not actually qualified!

For example, I had one person coming to school each week to have therapy for 2 students (twins). The family have been using them for years. It costs nearly $200 per child per 40min session (20 mins for notes?). When I met this 'speech therapist', I realised I knew her and she was not a speech therapist at all. She had lost her job as a teacher's aide in a school and was now going into schools to provide 'therapy'. Now according to NDIS, this IS allowed as long as a trained speechie oversees the therapy. However, in this instance, this was NOT the case and the family was charged full fee without even knowing that speech was not delivered by a qualified person. They didn't even have any assessments done, goals set or session reports. So for all those years of 'therapy', these kids were actually not getting what they deserved to close the gap as part of early intervention.

I believe that this is happening everywhere. People get through the system and it's turned into a market.

Another child I work with who is in a wheelchair requires ongoing physiotherapy. The most helpful 'exercise' he has is swimming. To get to go swimming, he needs a physiotherapist, 2 support workers and goes in a taxi. This means each swimming trip costs $1000 (literally). 

If the government is purely changing the name, but not changing the way families can access qualified supports, then will it actually close the gap?

There are just too many 'businesses' out there milking the NDIS.

Please note, I am not talking about those who work honestly to support children.

Parents and families are desperate to get their children the help they need. 

I hope this 'change' is thought out and planned well. I'd hate to see money-makers use this as a green light to make a few more $$$.

I guess this also aligns with Victoria's new Disability Inclusion Funding in schools. Children do not need a diagnosis to get the support they deserve.

@BPDSurvivor @Jynx @Till23 @tyme  my son who now is 31 grew up in ACT where there was a strong autism parent group who would constantly lobby government for good schooling and supports for our children.  my son who has complex needs was diagnosed with epilepsy and early childhood schizophrenia needed more and we went back to nsw to get him into a aspect school.  he then moved onto regular school with a support worker which i believe was best for him in the long run but it depends on the school.

This is the thing all these kids fall under the same diagnosis but are so different in what works for them. all their needs are different and that is what worries me the government have no idea and lets face it really dont care it is all about the dollar.

now my son is in a great supported living arrangement which works for him and us as a family. i have begun to repair myself after years of torment and i know my other children feel the same way. the thing is how long will it last can i properly breathe a sigh of relief and know that my son will have this care for the rest of his life. will he be safe when i am gone.

Thanks for the tag @tyme 

I guess my concern is regarding how parents access this.

• Will it be another diagnosis necessary thing?
• What about the transition from NDIS?
• Is it just going to be another government initiative with long waitlists? 
• Not all parents know what to look for and by the time they get in schooling half the eligible support years are gone
• Do you know how hard it is just to get in and see someone who can diagnose autism or developmental delay? 
• How many people will fall through the gaps with the transition though.

I think in order for this to have a shred of a chance at working they will need to approve GP diagnosis or referral with maximum 6 month waitlist for applications

Totally @avant-garde . There's a lot that hasn't been 'published' so I'm not sure there are any answers to any of your questions. And I think this is why there may be hesitation to the transition.

I put in an Access Request in the past, but it's such an ordeal that I stopped trying after the first time. And that was years ago. I can only imagine how stressful it is for parents @ArraDreaming !