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Foundational Supports, is a topic on everyone’s mind as the largest National Disability Insurance Scheme conference takes place in Melbourne this week . They’re the big change on the horizon for the five and a half million Australians living with disability and were the subject of the Community sector’s new community politics podcast, From Pillar to Post, when it partnered with Powerd Media this week.
Powerd Media put a callout on our social media channels asking for your thoughts on what exactly our readers know about Foundational Supports as well as spoke with decision makers and those directly impacted by the scheme.
The consensus from the community was that not many people know what they are or how they will be used. For those who wish to know more about Foundational Supports, you can find our explainer article here.
One use of Powerd Media’s socials, Charlie Park, told us that many community-based disability supports disappeared 10 years ago when the NDIS came.
“You can no longer go to your local council and receive help with cleaning or meals if you are disabled. It's either the big, massive, awful behemoth of the NDIS or no support beyond your family,” they say.
Bernardo Vizcaino is a single father of two active children. His son, Lucas, was diagnosed with Autism at two and a half years old. He says Lucas received his early diagnosis before the introduction of the NDIS and was only given a piece of paper with handwritten notes as how to progress.
I remember talking to this doctor who gave us the diagnosis, and at the end of the meeting he handed me this piece of paper…he had scribbled down all sorts of supports and therapies
Bernardo Vizcaino
Looking back on life prior to the NDIS, Lucas’s father recalls being directed towards various organisations, community groups and resources for the education system.
“If any support was required or needed by someone, [people] would just point you to the NDIS.”
When the NDIS was introduced, many Not for Profits morphed into service providers and changed their business model from being volunteer led to being funded by the scheme.
When the father of two asked what sort of supports there are for individuals not on the NDIS, most organisations state that it is outside of their jurisdiction.
“The fact that foundational supports are coming online stops that excuse. It tells the rest of the government to engage with the disability community to support people with disability,” he says.
Powered Media's program coordinator, Vanessa Smith, lives with multiple disabling chronic illnesses. She says various recommended submissions from advocacy groups, organisations and charities were made to the federal government last year which highlighted the need for further clarity of Foundational Supports.
“If foundational supports are going to be state based, that's a huge risk for inconsistency.”
Hannah Orban is an Associate in the Grattan Institute’s Disability Program, advocating for the equality of people with disability through evidence-based public policy.
She explains that when the NDIS was designed in 2011, three tiers of support were established. The second was the initial plan for Foundational Support.
Specific supports for people with disability who don't need intensive supports but need something a little bit more than mainstream services
Hannah Orban
When asked why Foundational Supports have been the slowest to come to fruition, the policy maker pointed to the NDIS occupying a great deal of focus for government officials.
“The NDIS is such a significant change to the social policy system…getting that up and running has been a big challenge and it's basically…we just haven't gotten around to foundational supports, but it's really important that we do that,” Ms Orban says.
According to Ms Orban, negotiations between federal, state, and territory governments have stalled, adding another layer of complexity to them.She claims there is a lot of uncertainty about how many people will be accessing foundational support, and state governments are concerned about the levels of demand.
“There is a risk that with calling for more new funding into foundational supports, the negotiations will stall, and we won't see foundational supports anytime soon, and we really need them.”
And you can list to
From Pillar to Post here and find a version with transcript here.
Further reading:
- ‘Who looks after me?’ More than 40% of disability carers have disability themselves – and they need more support
- Where are Foundational Supports?
- Results of the media request on foundational supports
- In search of clarity on the new supports outside the NDIS
- Explainer: What are Foundational Supports?
- Disability Supports Beyond the NDIS