The National Disability Insurance Scheme is being rolled out from 1st July 2019 across Queensland. All the usual support agencies will remain in place including for health services and for older persons.
The NDIS will accept applications for persons with profound disabilities to be able to achieve many of the expected experiences which the general population enjoy. This requires a plan to be developed each year with measurable goals and funding requests, and this plan needs to be approved by the NDIA.
The basis for decision making of the plan rests on what is considered reasonable and necessary, and this includes consideration of six elements.
Does the plan assist the applicant to pursue defined goals, does it offer value for money, are there reasonable expectations of informal networks, does it facilitate social and economic participation, will it be effective and beneficial, and are these elements most appropriately funded by the NDIS.
Funding from the NDIS is based on every qualifying individuals needs and their personalised plan is reassessed every year, so equipment and building requirements might be a one off cost.
As architects we have worked on many specialist facilities to assist people with disabilities and it is very exacting and sometimes very personal. The NDIS funding does not supplant existing funding or existing agencies support and is aimed at persons with profound disabilities.
Unfortunately we have also seen a lot of work which is done badly or is non-compliant with Australian standards. The absolute cheapest means of supplying appropriate built infrastructure is to get it right the first time on a new build, otherwise the costs of rectification, or complete rebuilds, can be very expensive. Retrofitting existing premises can be more difficult and expensive.
