Yesterday NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds announced that participants are now able to use their core budgets to purchase rapid antigen tests (RATs) to continue to access supports.

Participants are also able to use core funding to purchase a RAT for their disability support worker where this is necessary for continuity of supports, and in line with guidance from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

While acknowledging the vital role that RATs will play in supporting NDIS participants to safely access the supports they require, NDS is disappointed that there is no mechanism for providers of supports, other than SIL, to claim the significant costs of RATs directly.

Rapid antigen tests for staff are not a ‘nice to have’, they are essential to providers being able to provide safe disability supports to NDIS participants, many of whom have significant medical vulnerability to COVID-19.

Expecting providers to negotiate with participants around essential safety measures and equipment (such as PPE) has proven problematic in the past and has placed participants and their families in the position of having to make decisions between receiving support or receiving support safely. Given the volume of RATs required across some supports, it is likely many participants will need their plans reviewed, creating additional work for the NDIA and unnecessary distress for participants.

This places significant additional administrative burden onto providers, already struggling with managing Omicron outbreaks among participants and in their workforce. NDS has today contacted both the Minister’s Office and the NDIA requesting that a more workable and appropriate mechanism be established as a matter of urgency.