ACT in Focus by Jo Huxley, February 2024

Welcome to our first newsletter for the year. It feels like we have been back up and running for a long time now … maybe we never stopped! 

The end of 2023 was absolutely huge with the release of the NDIS Review Report, our Executive Leaders Conference in Melbourne and a cabinet reshuffle here in Canberra that saw Rachel Stephen-Smith return to the disability portfolio.  

I met Minister Stephen-Smith in January and spoke about the Review, reiterating that the current operating conditions are not the same as when we transitioned into the Scheme 10 years ago. Once again, support for the sector to navigate major reforms will be critical to the success of the Review’s blueprint for change in the sector.   

Minister Stephen-Smith will be joining us at our first major event for 2024, our Hot Topics Breakfast on 6 March. We are down to our last few tickets, so get in today and make sure you don’t miss out.  

Like everyone, we are continuing to digest the recommendations of the Review, which came out hot on the heels of the Disability Royal Commission Final Report. While we wait for state and federal governments to respond to the recommendations, we are gearing up for another suite of major transformations of the disability system.  

Although Minister Shorten has already told us that changes are likely to occur over several years rather than months, we are busy shoring up our policy positions for a long campaign of advocacy.   

Two hot issues coming out of the NDIS Review are the development of foundational supports as part of a redeveloped ecosystem outside the NDIS, and its proposal for disability service providers to be registered or enrolled. We’ll discuss that at the breakfast.   

Here in the ACT, the government has announced a review of the ACT Senior Practitioner Act legislation that has been in place since 2018. A public consultation will open shortly, and NDS will be hosting a roundtable for our members to engage directly with the review. If you would like to take part, please contact me ASAP via submit enquiry/feedback.  

Another issue on our agenda is the 2023–24 Annual NDIS Pricing Review. Public consultations are open, and we urge you to make a submission before it closes on Sunday 3 March. You can find the Provider Consultation Paper on the NDIS website. NDS has pulled together a range of resources to guide providers.   

In light of the 2023 NDS State of the Sector Report, which revealed widespread financial difficulties for NDS members, strong lobbying of the Pricing Review is critical.   

It’s going to be another big year. I’m looking forward to working with you all and, as always, if you have any questions, feedback or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.