NDIS Implementation Russell Hopkins - Director Community Services Steve Ward – Manager Aged and Disability

Background The City of Whittlesea is one of Melbourne's 10 outer 'Interface Councils', which means we face: Rapid population growth Lack of infrastructure High demand for services Social disadvantage Requirement to balance the needs of our growth and established areas. One of the five North East Metro Area (NEMA) Councils NDIS rollout had potential for: Significant improvement for residents with a disability Risk of disruption to a fragile service system during a period of significant change

NDIS Transition Issues Three key settings for action: Residents with disabilities and carers Service providers Council: as service provider, planner, facilitator and advocate. Council funded the “NDIS prepare project” A project plan for the life of NDIS rollout A project steering group for the life of NDIS rollout A Project officer Band 8 0.6 EFT for 16 months from Jun 15 – Oct 16

Project Steering group & Action Plan Governance: The Project Steering group Membership: Director Community Services (Chair) Manager Aged and Disability Manager Community Wellbeing Team Leader Access Team Leader Home Support Project Officer SMEs as required Met for an hour each month: (in 2016 increased to fortnightly) Authorising environment Knowledge and info sharing Risk mitigation Strategic oversight

NDIS Prepare project Plan Example actions: Bring together local stakeholders via existing networks and groups Identify key risks & opportunities for residents, service providers & Council Identify strategies to enhance / facilitate outcomes: Advocate for & facilitate implementation of strategies and actions to enhance service continuity & optimal outcomes for residents Collaborate with other NEMA Councils

Some Learnings Do not do what someone else is funded to do Do not produce Council branded NDIS material Focus on the opportunities that do exist & the decisions that Council can make to influence outcomes for residents You are not alone Things will change along the way! – possibly more than once

Our services / Our Decision Metro Access Program – funding uncertain Early Childhood integration - contract ending WhiSKHA- Council funded school holiday program WhiSKHA Teen- Federally funded teen school holiday program for teens HACC- 250-350 clients likely to transition, 28,000 Hours of service (7% of all HACC Clients 15% of all HACC services)

Our HACC Decision Some factors we faced: Councillor imperatives: NDIS price not sustainable due to our staff conditions Disability clients are a small percentage of overall clients who require larger volumes of more complex care than our HACC program was geared up to provide NDIA registration was an additional administrative burden for a relatively small number of clients ‘Thin Market’ – potential for residents to not have suitable alternative providers if Council ‘exited’ Council has a long tradition of supporting and advocating for residents with a disability Councillor imperatives: Continuity of care for existing clients, with a ‘soft’ transition Continuity of employment for HACC staff, some of whom would be significantly impacted – again, a ‘soft’ transition

Our HACC Decision In April 2016 Council resolved to: Not register as an NDIS provider To provide supported transition by: Offering existing HACC clients the choice to continue to receive current HACC services from Council for up to 12 months after a client transitions to the NDIS Forming a partnership with a local NDIS provider to collaboratively develop sustainable access to existing models of service for both current clients and potential new clients Explore pathways to employment for staff whose work would reduce as clients transitioned

HACC - NDIS Provider Partnership The NDIS Provider Partnership had three key objectives: Pathway to provide transitional support to existing HACC clients for up to 12 months after they transition to the NDIS (in April 2016 we expected we would need to be NDIS registered to continue service provision) Pathway to sustained access to certain service types – ie. Groups for young people. Explore pathways to employment for staff who would lose work (especially after-hours work) without triggering ‘transmission of business’ YMCA Whittlesea was appointed, following an invited tender with ten local providers Well established local provider of recreation, leisure, childcare and a range of services to residents with a disability including school holiday programs and respite care

NDIS Prepare Project evolution Initially - we filled gaps (unsustainable) : Delivered 18 NDIS info sessions to over 600 community members Attended community events with over 1500 people attendance Meet 1:1 with 29 service providers Presented at 28 Forums/ sessions to over 1000 people including providers, local networks & Council staff Developed an extensive communication network Facilitated others to ‘do their job’: As peak bodies were funded to support transition, we engaged with them and facilitated them to deliver their roles Collaborated and Advocated: With the other NEMA Councils, active and ongoing engagement & advocacy with DHHS disability & DHHS HACC, NDIA and once appointed, the LAC Information sharing continues to be a key activity 350 community members linked to project 180 service providers linked to project 700 members of Whittlesea Disability Network

Achievements & Outcomes Handout contains a list of activities / achievements Outcomes: Too early to be certain ... But we believe... Residents have access to a number of facilitated pathways to access information and services from the NDIS Local service providers have had the supports and opportunities they were entitled to receive in preparation for the rollout of the NDIS New service providers have access to information and networks that will facilitate their establishment Council clarified its own role and has done its best to maximise the opportunities for residents

Questions: Further info: We have a brief handout today We will shortly publish a report on the project and make it available via the MAV Requests : Priority will be given to Councils in the next rollout areas Contact: Steve.Ward@Whittlesea.vic.gov.au