From: Vern Hughes [mailto:vern@partnerships.org.au]
Sent: Friday, 8 March 2013 9:56 AM
To: Colleagues
Subject: Full Report: NDIS “the world’s worst system of individualized funding”
Sent: Friday, 8 March 2013 9:56 AM
To: Colleagues
Subject: Full Report: NDIS “the world’s worst system of individualized funding”
NATIONAL STEERING GROUP
Self-Directed Services and Personal Budgets
REPORT: DESIGNING NDIS
NOW AVAILABLE
NOW AVAILABLE
Simon Duffy
Director, Centre for Welfare Reform UK
http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/uploads/attachment/360/designing-ndis.pdf
“I have spent 22 years trying to design decent and affordable systems of individualized funding in the UK. I’ve also been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to explore other international models. I’m really hoping that the Australian system will go on to be the world leading system that Australians with disabilities deserve.
However, if the early designs that I have seen were implemented then I think that Australia is in danger of building the world’s worst system of individualized funding. I do not make these remarks lightly, nor for rhetorical effect.
In summary I believe:
1. The current design does not reflect international or Australian learning about best practice in individualized funding systems.
2. The resistance to acknowledging human rights and real entitlements will undermine both the quality and sustainability of the model.
3. The resistance to accepting the reality of rationing will have the perverse consequence of promoting the worst kinds of indirect rationing.
4. In principle, the concept of insurance could be very helpful, but it is not currently being used effectively to guide the design of the NDIS.
5. The current design is in conflict with human rights and lacks any basic trust in the competency of Australians with disabilities to make their own decisions.
6. The proposed model does not do enough to harness the efficiencies that come from shifting responsibilities to citizens and making resources flexible.
7. The model is hyper-centralised and risks eroding the responsibilities of states, communities, services and families.
8. The current model is designed in a way which will create significant inflationary pressure and will damage social capital at every level.
9. The proposed design involves an unnecessarily expensive and centralized bureaucratic structure.
10. The current design is not innovative, but bureaucratic, and it leaves no room for innovation at any level.”
However, if the early designs that I have seen were implemented then I think that Australia is in danger of building the world’s worst system of individualized funding. I do not make these remarks lightly, nor for rhetorical effect.
In summary I believe:
1. The current design does not reflect international or Australian learning about best practice in individualized funding systems.
2. The resistance to acknowledging human rights and real entitlements will undermine both the quality and sustainability of the model.
3. The resistance to accepting the reality of rationing will have the perverse consequence of promoting the worst kinds of indirect rationing.
4. In principle, the concept of insurance could be very helpful, but it is not currently being used effectively to guide the design of the NDIS.
5. The current design is in conflict with human rights and lacks any basic trust in the competency of Australians with disabilities to make their own decisions.
6. The proposed model does not do enough to harness the efficiencies that come from shifting responsibilities to citizens and making resources flexible.
7. The model is hyper-centralised and risks eroding the responsibilities of states, communities, services and families.
8. The current model is designed in a way which will create significant inflationary pressure and will damage social capital at every level.
9. The proposed design involves an unnecessarily expensive and centralized bureaucratic structure.
10. The current design is not innovative, but bureaucratic, and it leaves no room for innovation at any level.”
The full report is available at http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/uploads/attachment/360/designing-ndis.pdf
Vern Hughes
There is also a copy of the full report on the Aux website, click here to read and learn...
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