New data has revealed how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continued to support more Australians during 2020—a year full of unprecedented challenges from the devastating bushfires in January through to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not only did the NDIS need to adapt to these challenges, it needed to support the NDIS community through a very stressful time. It achieved this by adding or refining supports available to participants and providers, improving outcomes for participants and growing the Scheme.
The data, drawn from the latest NDIS Quarterly Report (Q2 2020-21) released, demonstrates not only has the NDIS adapted, it continued to deliver for people with disability.
- an average of 24,800 people into the NDIS each quarter in 2020.
- supporting over 430,000 people with disability, an increase of more than 93,500 participants since December 2019.
- The number of younger people in residential aged care has reduced by 22 per cent over the past two years.
- 100 per cent of access decisions are made within the 21 day timeframe. In June 2019 we were taking an average of 42 days to make an access decision.
- 98 per cent of first plans are approved for participants aged 0-6 within 90 days, compared to 85 per cent a year ago. For participants aged 7 and above, 92 per cent of first plans are approved within the 70 day timeframe, compared to 64 per cent a year ago.
- Review timeframes have significantly improved with 100 per cent of decisions to undertake a participant requested review made within 21 days, compared to a year ago where 56 per cent of decisions to undertake a participant requested review were made within 21 days.
- On 1 July 2020, the NDIS was available nation-wide. After seven years of hard work, the Scheme became available to all Australians, a wonderful milestone to reach.
Equally critical to supporting participants achieve better outcomes is the continued development of an innovative, engaged provider sector.
In a recent provider sentiment survey, nearly 60 per cent of providers said they felt optimistic about the health of the NDIS market, an increase of 12 per cent from the previous survey in September 2019.
For more information and to read the latest Quarterly Report, visit www.ndis.gov.au.
