At this significant time of transformation in the disability sector, I hope you are all managing the challenges well and are able to keep delivering high-quality services to participants.

I understand how hard things are and how many of you are struggling to stay sustainable. NDS is working hard as the disability providers’ voice to ensure that transformation happens as smoothly as possible and all providers are well-supported throughout.

The Annual NDIS Pricing Review has begun deliberating. If you haven’t had time to read the NDS submission, I would encourage you to do so.  

It was also heartening to see the new NDIS amendment legislation introduced into federal parliament last week. The amendments will allow the Minister, in consultation with the states, territories and disability community, to create NDIS rules and legislative instruments on how the NDIS operates.  

And it’s also good to see the work on registration progressing well, with a taskforce set up in February. If you haven’t made a submission to the taskforce, we encourage you to do so before the 28 April closing date.  

With the NIDS Review handing down its recommendations only late last year, we are pleased to see the government fulfilling its promise of getting the reform process rolling. We will keep you up to date with all developments through our weekly news digests and the latest news is always posted on our NDIS Review hub page.  

In the meantime, we are working with the state government to organise sector engagement events on the development of foundational supports here in South Australia. I will let you know as soon as the first opportunity is set. 

NDS made a submission to the South Australian Government on the draft Portable Long Service Leave Bill 2024, which would extend portable long service leave (PLSL) to the communities sector. After consultation with our members, we argued that disability providers be exempt from the legislation.  

We said portable leave should be held off until a national agenda for portable leave schemes has been addressed, planning for the transformation of the sector is well advanced, and the review of the SCHADS award is completed. We also pointed out that pricing in the sector is undermining provider sustainability and needs to be fixed before piling on the extra burden of portable leave.  

On this and all these issues, our highly skilled Policy and Advocacy Team are doing an exceptional job of advocating on your behalf.  

I would be delighted to tell you more about their work or discuss any of your concerns during this long reform period. Please, get in touch.