Nothing about us without us

Disability Representative Organisations stand united in our reiteration to government of nothing about us without us.

While Minister Mark Butler noted nothing about us without us in his speech at the National Press Club yesterday, the announcements made by the Minister came as a surprise to the disability community and representative organisations. This has created further uncertainty for our community.

We are heartened by the Government’s continued commitment to the NDIS, which has changed the lives of people with disability around Australia. However, we are collectively disappointed that the government chose not to engage with the disability community about their announcement.

We welcome the investment in supports for children with developmental delay and autism but need more information about what appears to be an ambitious timeline, and how yesterday’s announcement fits with the broader landscape of Foundational Supports – general and other targeted supports, and the previous commitments that the Australian, state and territory governments have made to this.

We want to ensure that focus on General Foundational Supports is not lost. These vital services, like peer support, accessible information, and self-advocacy, are a key pillar of the NDIS Review findings and are intended to be available to all people with disability around the nation, whether or not people are NDIS participants.

The scope and timeline for implementation of the layered Foundational Supports recommended by the NDIS Review, which are essential for the 4.8 million Australians with disability who are not part of the NDIS, remains unclear. Co-design, for the “Thriving Kids” program and all reforms, with people with disability and their representative organisations is integral.

We look forward to working in constructive partnership with government in co-designing a sustainable eco-system outside the NDIS.

We value and support the assurance provided by Minister Butler on radio today that children will not be diverted or removed from the NDIS before the new system starts. We need to ensure this system is a community-accepted, fully established and sustainable alternative that provides for specialised supports.