In this issue of Don’t Be Left Out of NDIS, we focus on compliance and risk management with a special focus on the impact of COVID-19.
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WHATS HAPPENING AT FACILITRADE NDIS
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NDIS NEWS
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHATS HAPPENING AT FACILITRADE NDIS
COVID-19 and Compliance
With greater freedoms with the restrictions easing and the economy opening, I hope your businesses are picking up too.
At Facilitrade NDIS we’ve been focusing on advising our clients on compliance issues to do with COVID-19 vaccination and workplace health and safety.
The NSW Government has announced mandatory vaccination requirements for all disability workers. The new requirements are in the Public Health (COVID-19 Care Services) Order 2021 (PDF 221KB) under the Public Health Act 2010. The requirements were announced on 14 October 2021.
Click on this image for these new requirements:
COVID-19, Compliance and Risk Management
The Governance Institute of Australia is running an excellent course on Workplace Health and Safety Due Diligence on 26 October 2021.
This is ideal for those of you who are Compliance and Risk Managers, WHS Managers and Senior Managers in your disability service organisations.
Check out the link in this image for more info and to register.
Long Delays in Registration Approvals
In other news at Facilitrade NDIS, our clients are experiencing long delays with the NDIS Commission approving new applications and even renewal registrations. The NDIS Commission advises that there are delays of around 6 months. However, our clients are seeing longer delays than this. If you are a new provider, you could commence services to Self-Managed and Plan Managed participants so that the delays have less disruption to your plans and finances.
NDIS NEWS
COVID-19 Vaccinations for the Disability Sector
The long promised and overdue Phase 1a of this vaccination process has now moved fast to show that as at 12 October 2021 73.5% of NDIS participants in Australia in shared accommodation have been fully vaccinated and 67.4% of NDIS screened workers have been fully vaccinated:
Phase 1a – People with disability living in shared accommodation
However people on the NDIS, let alone those in shared accommodation, do not represent the full population of individuals in Australia who identify as having a disability.
NDIS participants were only around 10-15 per cent of around 4.4 million Australians who identify as living with a disability.
Unfortunately, there is no mechanism to gather comprehensive data for people with a disability. The Department of Health is working with the Department of Social Services and National Disability Insurance Agency to form a better picture.
Source: https://www.health.gov.au
With more organised supply of vaccines, better access to venues and greater government support, it is hoped that the disability sector will be more protected from this menacing virus.
Some Interesting Insights into the Sustainability of the Scheme
The cost of the Scheme is growing more rapidly than anticipated.
The NDIA released a comprehensive report on the financial sustainability of the Scheme on 3 July 2021. As shown in this table, its projection known as 31 December 2020 update, is higher than both the 2021-22 Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) and the 2017 Productivity Commission (PC) projection.
Both the estimated number of participants and the average payment per participant are driving total higher costs.
The number of participants in the Scheme is close to 467,000, with nearly 75,000 entering in 2020-21:
Source: NDIS Quarterly Report, 30 June 2021
What are the reasons for this cost blow out?
– Higher than expected numbers of children entering the Scheme
– Increasing package costs over and above the impacts of inflation
– Potential participants continuing to approach the Scheme
– Lower than expected participants exiting the Scheme
– A mismatch between benchmark package costs and actual package costs.
As at 30 June 2021, the average actual annualised cost per participant was $54,300.39. Assuming no new participants enter the Scheme and average payment per participant does not grow, the Scheme will spend $25.3 billion over 2021-22.
Sustained significant growth in average participant costs will continue to place significant pressure on Scheme sustainability and long-term affordability. The NDIA is working with the disability sector and governments, so the Scheme remains affordable now and into the future. It will be interesting to watch this space to see what steps will be taken.
Here is an excellent forum you can participate in for more on this topic:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What’s the Process for Renewing my NDIS Registration?
Your NDIS registration with the Commission must be renewed every 3 years. This is to ensure that your organisation continues to be compliant with current rules, the NDIS Code of Conduct and Quality Standards.
Its best to start the process at least 6 months prior to your registration expiry date. Here are easy steps to follow:
– Log into the NDIS portal
– Go to My Registration
– Complete a renewal application including a Self-Assessment
– A Scope of Audit document will be issued once you submit your application
– Provide this to your selected NDIS auditor to request a quote.
– Check your policies, processes, and documents in preparation for the audit
– Face the audit with your essential team. Verification audits are desk audits. Certification audits are either face to face or online
– Your auditor submits their audit report for peer review
– The outcome will be sent to you for response
– You auditor files their report with the Commission.
Q: What are the Key Responsibilities of an NDIS Registered Plan Manager?
Plan management activities and responsibilities include:
– Discussing a participant’s supports and goals as stated in their NDIS plan
– Ensuring supports obtained are always aligned with a participant’s NDIS plan
– Confirming there is sufficient NDIS funding in a participant’s plan for supports
– Agreeing on a preferred method of invoicing
– Explaining the plan manager’s process for receiving and claiming invoices
– Providing regular reports of plan spend against participant’s plan budget
– Deciding on the best mode of communication with the participant
– Explaining dispute resolution processes.
To know about the benefits of being plan managed go to https://facilitradendis.com.au
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE?
Try me as a one stop shop for your NDIS policy development, self-assessment, registration and ongoing compliance work.
Best regards until next time,
Janaki
