PWDA reports back on Joint Standing Committee

Representatives of People with Disability Australia (PWDA) have promoted the issues that matter to the community at a recent meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS.

Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith and Acting director systemic advocacy Michelle Keogh joined the committee on Thursday 23 October.

Discussions focused on several key areas, including:

• Reframing the narrative around the NDIS, away from its current focus on fraud and cost which promotes the view of people with disability as a burden.
• The importance of effective and individualised supports needs assessments, and the organisation’s hope that the recently announced I-CAN tool will move away from deficit-based assessments.
• The importance of genuine co-design, where people with disability are partners in shaping the future of the NDIS while upholding dignity, autonomy and inclusion.

The pair said the key areas are critical to ensuring the NDIS supports people with disability as intended.