Home and Living Reference Group meeting bulletin, 7 August 2024
The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) Home and Living Reference Group (Reference Group) met online on 7 August 2024. They discussed:
what they have heard in their communities
co-designing reforms for home and living
the IAC Work Plan’s focus on home and living, with reference to navigators.
Ms Leah van Poppel, IAC Principal Member, led the meeting.
What Members have heard in their communities
Members discussed the current community sentiment around the release of the Australian Government’s response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission). There is concern about what might be in the government’s pending response to the final report of the Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and pending legislative changes. The sentiment and concerns relate to the volume and content of recent reports and and that the views and advice shared by people with disability is not being reflected in Government’s responses.
Members raised ongoing concerns about the participant experience across the NDIS planning journey. These concerns particularly related to delays with plan reviews and the safety risks this can create for some people. Members appreciated the Agency sharing the work they are doing to address backlogs and delays. Members also raised issues some participants face with reassessments, change of circumstances, and requests for assistive technology.
Members reiterated the importance of the Agency continuing to progress improvements in home and living supports to ensure participants have the choice and control to live in a stable, safe and supportive home situation. Members reported they are hearing of some plans being reduced which has the potential to push participants into home and living arrangements that provide inadequate support. This is often participants who self-manage NDIS plans and can lead to them waiting in hospital while they await decisions on housing supports.
Co-designing reform in home and living
The Agency shared updates on co-design reform in home and living and noted links between co-designing reform and the Home and Living Framework (Framework). The Agency is planning to release the Framework soon noting this is dependent on Government responses to the Royal Commission and NDIS Review being finalised.
Members encouraged the Agency to continue identifying home and living reforms that can be started now. The Agency will keep members informed on opportunities for co-design for home and living. Members sought assurance that the Agency will use learnings from previous work and IAC advice.
Members highlighted that home and living funding should meet the participant’s needs and support their choice and control. The Agency should consider some of the research that shows group homes do not advance choice and control that enables participants need to live a good life.
The IAC’s Work Plan and advice about home and living
The Reference Group discussed the IAC’s Work Plan for 2024-25 and their provision of advice to the Agency about home and living supports. Members will strengthen IAC advice using case studies that show innovative and flexible ways home and living supports can work for participants. There should be an ongoing focus on informing the Agency on the barriers faced by participants who want quality and consistent home and living supports.
Members discussed the navigator role proposed by the NDIS Review. Pending the Government response to the NDIS Review, members are keen to provide expert advice particularly in the areas of helping participants get the right home and living supports, support in rural and remote and First Nations communities.
More information on the Reference Group
The Home and Living Reference Group will next meet on 30 October 2024. Find out more about IAC and Reference Group meetings and bulletins at the IAC website.
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