A performance audit of the State’s preparedness to move onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has found the transition was not without its challenges for people with disability, Government entities and service providers.
That said, Auditor General, Caroline Spencer concluded the preparations had been largely effective.
In her report WA’s Transition to the NDIS Ms Spencer found the NDIS was expected to double the funding for disability services to nearly $2 billion a year and improve access to support services for more than 40,000 Western Australians by 2023.
She said the Departments of Communities, the Premier and Cabinet, and Treasury had drawn on the State’s long experience in delivering disability services, and learnt from the experiences of other jurisdictions, to effectively manage the early risks in transitioning to the NDIS.
“Although the original targets for transitioning people onto the NDIS were not met —a process over which the State has little influence — early lengthy negotiations and studies that analysed actual disability prevalence in WA meant the State has avoided paying several hundred million dollars a year for services not being received,” Ms Spencer said.
“However, risks remain and any delays in achieving full and timely implementation may result in the State paying for unused services.”
Ms Spencer said Western Australia was in the third year of a six-year transition and entities needed to closely monitor and manage ongoing transition risks so the expected benefits were fully realised, and shifting or duplication of costs and services did not occur.
“This includes clear determination of WA’s role, the monitoring and management of transition and implementation risks, negotiation on interim transition targets and agreement on payment obligations,” she said.
“Crucial is the important step of formalising arrangements to ensure the State only pays the Commonwealth for the actual number of participants in the scheme from 1 July to 30 June 2023.”
The report includes recommendations to assist State entities with continued implementation of NDIS.
The Auditor General’s 37-page report can be accessed at this PS News link and the audit team was Aloha Morrissey, Issihaka Toure and Ben Travia.
