Page 2188 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 4 August 2015
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Therapy ACT is supporting the transition to the non-government organisations also. We are seeing changes to the service model of Therapy ACT which has continued to provide services for ACT residents from birth to age 65. A dedicated transition team is working with staff and families to facilitate referral to the NDIS, develop quotes for therapeutic services and engage with the non-government sector to build robust services that give families choice into the future. Therapy ACT is also continuing to provide assessments to a significant number of clients that are on the waiting list to ensure participants have a proof of eligibility and functional need that is required to enter the NDIS.
I have mentioned previously the ACT Child Development Service. From January next year intake, referral and assessment services to determine eligibility for the NDIS and to provide pathways for intervention will be delivered by the ACT Child Development Service. This will be subject to a separate statement in the Assembly in the near future.
While we are excited about the future of disability services under the NDIS we know that service providers also need to be prepared. This is why we are working in collaboration with disability organisations to maximise opportunity and minimise the financial impact of the changing market. Service funding agreements with existing providers were stepped down from 1 July last year in line with the expected client phasing schedules.
Since the beginning of this year five organisations have requested changes to their quarterly payment structure to account for delays in client phasing. We as a government are working with each of these organisations to quantify the financial impact and to reimburse agencies for services provided to individuals.
The ACT government established a joint community-government working group to develop a transparent and responsive process to assist organisations that are experiencing short-term cash flow issues due to delay of clients phasing in to the NDIS. Disability ACT and the Health Directorate are working with providers on a case-by-case basis to determine if any reimbursement is required due to the delays in participants’ phasing. Reimbursement is based on identification of a material gap. A block funding working group, including representatives from government and the non-government sector, has been established to review the mechanism to verify the identification of any gaps in funding related to the delays in client phasing.
Information linkage and capacity building, or ILC, has formerly been referred to in many ways as tier 2 supports. They have had their contracts extended to 30 June next year to allow the commonwealth time to develop and implement the ILC policy framework and a transition plan for the ACT. Our government is also working with the NDIA to develop and implement ILC arrangements beyond 30 June next year.
The ACT government continues to deliver on the memorandum of understanding it negotiated with the unions to support the implementation of the NDIS. A case management approach has been implemented to support a staff of 523. Over 87 per cent of all staff have been contacted by a case manager. Of these, 56 per cent
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