NDIS Costs Inquiry Submission

  • 27 March 2017

CPSU is concerned that NDIS being used as a Trojan horse by governments for privatisation and the erosion of employment security, pay, and conditions and has made a submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Costs Inquiry.  CPSU members work in the government disability services sector in the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and in state government disability services departments in roles directly working with and supporting clients (eg. social trainers, disability support workers, local area coordinators, community support teams), and policy, planning, management and administrative roles.  CPSU supports the principles of NDIS, but unfortunately state governments, specifically NSW and WA, have seen NDIS as an opportunity to privatise public services and wash their hands of responsibility for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

CPSU recommendations:
 State governments cease the privatisation of their disability services, and bring any services that have already been privatised back into the public sector;
 Commonwealth government ceases the privatisation of the NDIA, removes the maximum 3,000 employees cap on staffing and directly employs workers;
 Commonwealth and State governments put in place regulations to safeguard the job security, pay, and conditions for workers who are transferred to the private sector, including a legally-enforceable employment guarantee of at least 5 years with no diminution of pay and conditions;
 NDIA regulate all employment (direct and contract) funded through the NDIS to ensure compliance with the award, OH&S legislation, and to ensure that superannuation is paid to workers;
 NDIA regulate to ensure minimum qualification requirements and compulsory training for workers engaged through NDIS funding;
 NDIS pricing is reviewed to ensure a sustainable funding model for the provision of disability supports into the future, in order that every person requiring support for their disability is able to access quality services over their lifetime;
 Clients are able to stay with their public disability service provider if they choose;
 Where clients are transferred to the non-government sector, they be informed of their options, are engaged and supported in decision-making, and can determine the length of the hand-over period to ensure there is minimal disruption and distress to the client.