1. Joseph Connellan MC Two Pty Ltd
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): Service, Citizens & Economic Challenges & Opportunities for Local Government in Victoria Local Government Human Service Directors & Aged & Disability Services Managers Wednesday 11 November
Joseph Connellan MC Two Pty Ltd

2. Introductions Joseph Connellan, Consultant, MC Two Pty Ltd has: Now
25+ years experience in housing & disability
Worked in policy & program development within Govt
Been Executive Officer in 6 NGOs
Worked for MAV in a policy role ( a long time ago)
Now
Consults to NFP, Government & others around housing, disability & other areas
Sits on Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC)
Works on strategic plans for housing agencies around NDIS
Facilitated first NDIS housing forum in Barwon
Passionate, realistic, pragmatic supporter of NDIS

3. NDIS Impact: Opportunities for Local Government
Biggest reform in 40 years
Rollout at beginning
Challenges and Opportunities for Local Government:
Services to people with a disability including and beyond Local Govt
Citizens as the social and economic participation of people with a disability increases
Economic as extra $2.5bn in Victoria mainly on employment
Service
Economic
Citizens

4. Background: 1m in Victoria with a disability & the NDIS

5. Local Government Strategic Framework for people with a disability (2011)
Ways Victorian councils can work to create a more inclusive community for people with a disability & their families & help meet legal obligations to remove barriers to discrimination:
Why
Facilitate civic participation & inclusive consultation
Influence community attitudes & perceptions
Improve employment opportunities
Foster partnership & collaboration
How
A whole-of council approach
Incorporate access & inclusion objectives in key documents
Improve accessibility of council buildings & infrastructure
Adopt inclusive communication & information approaches
Strategic use of statutory & regulatory roles
Exercise leadership in advocating to other organisations
Promote accessible & inclusive council services, programs & events
Utilise effective accountability practices
Review & evaluate progress

6. NDIS – Big & Different: Economic & Social
NDIS is the biggest social reform in Australia in 40 years which will create significant service, economic and social challenges and opportunities.
How big?
460,000 people nationally..2% or 1 in 50 people.
$22bn+ pa by $900 allocated ..$500 spent per person
NDIS will become bigger than aged care (residential & community)
Equal to more than 50% of all Local Government expenditure

7. NDIS: Biggest Social Reform in 40 years
How Different?
Key Elements
Focus on Whole of life cost
Move to Consumer choice
Creation of a national market
Double the amount of money
Key Changes
From mostly Government/NFP to mostly Private
From Govt managed regional catchment to national market
From Govt mandated service standards to consumer choice
Migration of Govt staff & corporate knowledge
New functions & costs of marketing, individualising & co-ordination
Reforming & replacement of the current NFP organisation system
More extreme than Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT)…?

8. NDIS Process We are only at the beginning of a mammoth task
6.5% of NDIS recipients have an approved plan
Observations - NDS Barwon Trial Site Providers Forum - Oct 2015
Welcomed by providers but has been challenging
Profitability at client level & cash flow are key issues
NDIS has lead to growth & more funding
NDIA & system has been in development
Staff is emerging issue (demand & casualization)
2012
We are Here
2022
NDIS Days on 1/11/2015
853 days from Scheme Start (1/7/2013)
1,157 days to Full Geographic Coverage (1/1/2019)
Full Coverage progressively after that

9. NDIS Progress (con’t) Bi-Lateral with Victoria signed
Rollout timelines announced
Specialist Disability Housing Schedule J released
First Local Area Coordination (LAC) Tender Announced
Assist people with disability, their families and carers to build and pursue their goals for a good life, exercise choice and control and engage with the Scheme.
Ensure that people with disability can be supported outside the Scheme by working with communities and mainstream services to build awareness and to become more inclusive of the range of needs and aspirations of people with disability.

10. Service
Economic
Citizens
Services
NDIS this will have a profound impact on the scale and viability of many services including Council’s own direct services
There is likely to rebalance from not for profit and Government to private sector
Larger providers are likely to emerge which may centralise outside of the catchment.
Service models are likely to change radically with the focus on hole of life cost
Possible Directions: Reconfigure Council provision of services to people with disability in context of NDIS
Example Action: Test Council services configurations for viability in NDIS future
Possible Directions: Seek to attract large providers
Example Action: Provide briefings for large providers on virtues of locating in the catchment

11. Citizens It is in interests of the Council and citizens that they:
Service
Economic
Citizens
Citizens
It is in interests of the Council and citizens that they:
Are aware of the NDIS
Register if eligible
Have the impact of their disability fully assessed
Receive a package of services that is comprehensive, effective and linked to the right long term goals
NDIA has leadership on this largely through LAC and providers promoting access
Risk is that some areas and cohort will be underserviced
Possible Direction: Promote an understanding of the NDIS to people with a disability & their families
Example Action: Partner with the LAC provider in their communication activities
Possible Direction: Facilitate information exchange amongst NDIS recipients and families
Example Action: Target resourcing to the development and support of NDIS recipients and carers groups

12. Service
Economic
Citizens
Economic
NDIS represents a large and increased economic activities and employment opportunities (perhaps double or more)
There will also be redistribution away from historical accumulations and under/overprovisions
Possible Direction: Inform key council decision makers on potential economic impact
Example Action: Brief Council Economic Development staff on likely NDIS spend and employments growth as well as potential impact on providers
Possible Direction: Support Local Providers Adaption
Example Action: Facilitate co-operative development work with local agencies to promote survival and growth (possibly in partnership with peaks such as NDS)
Larger LGA
Small LGA
Population
150,000
15,000
NDIS recipients full scheme
2,875
288
NDIS Spend pa
$97.8m
$9.8m

13. Summary NDIS Roll out timeframe is now clear.
Impact will huge but is unknown
Will reshape community services including Council
NDIS Local Government Challenge and Opportunities
Services, Economic and Citizens
Need to consider broad as well as narrow
First step is developing common understanding amongst all council stakeholders of:
NDIS scale
Potential impacts
Timeframes
Joseph Connellan, MC Two Pty Ltd or