Tasmania underutilising NDIS funding, parliamentary inquiry hears | The Examiner

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More than $ 140 million in funds for the National Disability Scheme in Tasmania will not be spent this year, says the state arm of National Disability Services. Hearings began Tuesday on a Legislative Council investigation into disability services in Tasmania. National Disability Services state manager Alice Flockhart told the committee that $ 403.7 million was allocated to NDIS plans in Tasmania this year, with only $ 261.6 million being paid out to attendees. READ MORE: Download our news app today. She said this means $ 140.1 million in funding will not be used. Ms. Flockhart said the state government needs to ensure that its investment in the NDIS is maximized. She said a breakdown of the underutilization of funds by local government areas shows that the money is not being spent as it is more difficult for people in certain areas to access services. Read More how to access it. “There are states that are using all of their pledged funds, so it is definitely possible that this level of use will be achieved,” she said. “Action needs to be taken to ensure that people understand the NDIS in their local communities.” READ MORE: Charities plead for extra winter support. The chair of the NDS state committee, Mark Jessop, said the program was in some ways under-funded. “Anything that is not spent simply goes back into the NDIS budget,” he said. Ms. Flockhart said it was important to ensure that support was provided to those who are not eligible for NDIS services. READ MORE: Greater Darwin Border Closing She said that Tasmania has 140,000 people with a disability but just over 10,000 would be eligible for NDIS. She said there are Tasmanians who are eligible for an NDIS package, but found the process of obtaining a package too complex to handle. Mr Jessop said some Tasmanians with disabilities who do not participate in NDIS may be in elderly care while others may be in home care. Tasmanian Amputee Society chairman Peter Hatters told the committee that a large percentage of health professional allies in the state have opted out of NDIS providers due to the cost and hassle of auditing and compliance. He said this put pressure on other providers. A number of disability service groups have discussed the loss of their organizations’ core funding due to the emergence of NDIS. Belinda Kitto, New Horizons CEO, said the service will likely only stay on for another year due to the loss of funding. She said it has so far only been able to work because of savings, fundraising, and a one-time payment from the federal government. Deborah Byrne, executive officer of the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania, said organizations would apply for funding through the NDIS Information Linkages and Capacity Building Grants program, although this is short-term funding.

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More than $ 140 million in funds for the National Disability Scheme in Tasmania will not be spent this year, says the state arm of National Disability Services.

Hearings began Tuesday on a Legislative Council investigation into disability services in Tasmania.

National Disability Services state manager Alice Flockhart told the committee that $ 403.7 million was allocated to NDIS plans in Tasmania this year, with only $ 261.6 million being paid out to attendees.

She said this means $ 140.1 million in funding will not be used.

Ms. Flockhart said the state government needs to ensure that its investment in the NDIS is maximized.

She said a breakdown of the underutilization of funds by local government areas shows that the money is not being spent as it is more difficult for people in certain areas to access services.

Ms. Flockhart said the government needs to ensure that there are workers available to perform services and that attendees are made aware of what the services are and how to access them.

“There are states that are using all of their pledged funds, so it is definitely possible that this level of use will be achieved,” she said.

“Action needs to be taken to ensure that people understand the NDIS in their local communities.”

NDS state committee chair, Mark Jessop, said the program was in some ways contingent on under-utilization of allocated funds.

“Anything that is not spent simply goes back into the NDIS budget,” he said.

Ms. Flockhart said it was important to ensure that support was provided to those who are not eligible for NDIS services.

She said that there are 140,000 people with disabilities in Tasmania, but just over 10,000 are eligible for the NDIS.

She said there are Tasmanians who are eligible for an NDIS package, but found the process of obtaining a package too complex to handle.

Mr Jessop said some Tasmanians with disabilities who do not participate in NDIS may be in elderly care while others may be in home care.

Tasmanian Amputee Society chairman Peter Hatters told the committee that a large percentage of health professional allies in the state have opted out of NDIS providers due to the cost and hassle of auditing and compliance.

He said this put pressure on other providers.

A number of disability service groups have discussed the loss of their organizations’ core funding due to the emergence of NDIS.

Belinda Kitto, New Horizons CEO, said the service will likely only stay on for another year due to the loss of funding.

She said it has so far only been able to work because of savings, fundraising, and a one-time payment from the federal government.

Deborah Byrne, executive officer of the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania, said organizations would apply for funding through the NDIS Information Linkages and Capacity Building Grants program, although this is short-term funding.