Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 4322

❓ Question regarding NDIS funding and access for people with disabilities in WA, particularly concerning functional assessments, low-income individuals, and the transition of psychosocial support programs. The answer clarifies funding sources and redirects some questions to other ministers.

AnsweredQoN 4322Legislative Council

Asked

24 August 2016

Member

Hon Stephen Dawson

Portfolio

Disability Services

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to support for people with disability in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) does the Western Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) fund functional assessments for eligibility to the scheme; (b) if no to (a), what measures are in place to ensure that Western Australians on low incomes who cannot afford assessments have equal access to the scheme, for example those adults on low incomes with a mental health disability or learning disorder; (c) the major federal community non-clinical psychosocial support programs, such as Personal Helpers and Mentors program and Partners in Recovery, are being transitioned to NDIS, as such will the Minister please advise: (i) which State funded equivalent support programs are available in the trial site regions for people with psychosocial support needs who are not eligible for the Western Australian NDIS; and (ii) how many people do each of the programs in (i), have the capacity to support each year; and (d) how many new people aged under 65, who are not eligible for the NDIS, have been declined access to the Home and Community Care program (HACC) services since HACC funding was transferred to the NDIS?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

22 September 2016

Responded by

Minister for Disability Services

Response time

29 days

(a) Yes. Local Coordination teams, which include personnel with allied health qualifications, assess functional capacity to inform WA NDIS eligibility determinations. Diagnostic assessments for intellectual disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder can be provided by the Disability Services Commission where required for WA NDIS eligibility determinations. Other diagnostic assessments to inform WA NDIS eligibility determinations are provided by other service systems including the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission or private providers. (b) Not applicable. (c) This part of the question should be directed to Minister for Mental Health, who is responsible for provision of mental health supports for people who are not eligible for the NDIS. (d) Only a proportion of Home and Community Care (HACC) funding calculated by the Departments of Health and Treasury was included in the State’s NDIS contribution. This transfer was for the estimated number of NDIS eligible people. The question of who has been declined access to HACC should be directed to the Minister for Health.

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