NDIS Commission releases 6 month Activity Report
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) has today published its 6-month activity report, covering the period 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021 for all states and territories in Australia.
The NDIS Commission now delivers a nation-wide approach to consistently protect and improve the rights, health and wellbeing of every NDIS participant in Australia.
“This six month report provides, for the first time, a complete national overview of the experience of people with disability who rely on supports and services in the NDIS,” said Ms Tracy Mackey, the newly appointed NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner.
This report provides an update for the sector on:
- changes to the NDIS Act
- amendments to the NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators
- initiatives that focus on improving quality
- targeted and proactive safeguarding initiatives in response to unauthorised restrictive practices (URPs)
- responding to changing circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, within the sector.
“In my role as Commissioner, I am committed to continuing the work of the NDIS Commission to uphold the rights of, and promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of people with disability receiving supports under the NDIS,” said Ms Mackey. “The focus of the NDIS Commission under my leadership will be to embed and enhance our regulatory performance while enabling the NDIS market - building on the experience of our first three years.”
The report provides data that reflects the work of the NDIS Commission during the reporting period to:
- uphold and protect the rights and safety of participants
- ensure best practice service delivery
- uplift the sector.
Case studies have also been included in the report, which provide a real-life application and context to some of reported metrics.
“A key focus of the NDIS Commission’s work has been to expose the issues in practice relating to the use of URPs on people with disability. We have recently completed a full analysis of the use of restrictive practices and behaviour support plan activities.” said Ms Mackey. “The NDIS Commission has undertaken a number of targeted compliance actions to ensure registered NDIS providers understand their responsibilities in regards to the use of URPs and the people who are subjected to them. An intensive focus in this area will continue in 2022.”
The NDIS Commission has also continued to exercise compliance and enforcement powers to address breaches of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act), which involves:
- applying proportionate and appropriate regulatory responses to non-compliance
- investigating matters, and taking corrective compliance action
- deploying compliance programs that address areas of identified risk of non-compliance
- working with other regulators
- participant outreach
- taking enforcement action in appropriate cases.
“We will continue to act when the rights of people with disability to receive safe and quality NDIS supports are at risk, and in instances where providers have not acted to address those risks.” Ms Mackey said.
The activity report is available to view on the NDIS Commission website.
From March 2022, the NDIS Commission will commence releasing quarterly reports.
“I am committed to these reports being valuable for all of our stakeholders, and in particular, that NDIS participants find these reports useful,” said Ms Mackey.