This chronology provides a brief overview of Australian,
state and territory government disability policies arising from the COVID-19
pandemic. It provides a brief explanation of the disability system in Australia;
highlights some key issues for people with disability impacted by COVID-19; outlines
broad responses and lists announcements from the Australian, state and
territory governments in relation to COVID-19 and disability services from 18 March
2020 to the end of June 2020.
The provision of support for people with disability in
Australia is guided by a National Disability Strategy and National Disability
Agreement. The National
Disability Strategy (NDS) 2010–2020 was developed by the Australian, state
and territory governments as a ten year plan to improve the lives of people
with disability, their families and carers. The NDS has a broader approach than
specialist disability services provided under the National
Disability Agreement (NDA) and the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and includes a focus on disability and
mainstream services and meeting the needs of people with disability.[1]
The Australian Government is in the process of developing a new NDS, with a new
Strategy expected to come into effect from the start of 2021.[2]
The shared responsibilities between the Australian, state
and territory governments include:
Each state and territory has developed its own disability
plan based on their own circumstances and priorities. State and territory
governments have responsibility for delivering the majority of public services
essential for people with disability to actively participate in their communities,
for example transport and public hospitals.[4]
The NDIS is part of a broader system of supports for people
with disability and whilst it can provide some assistance to all people with
disability–including identifying alternative supports for people
who are not eligible for the scheme–the main focus of the scheme is on
people with permanent and significant disability. Under the NDIS, people with
permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in
everyday activities or who would benefit from early intervention receive
individualised funding to assist them to meet their personal goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a number of concerns for
people with disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies six
areas that may cause people with disability to be at an increased risk of
contracting COVID-19:
Depending on any underlying health condition, people with
disability may be at an increased risk of developing severe cases of COVID-19
because:
In late March 2020, the Royal Commission into Violence,
Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Royal Commission)
issued a statement
of concern about the response to the COVID-19 pandemic for people with
disability.[7]
The statement indicated that people with disability, particularly First Nations
people with disability, may be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19
pandemic.[8]
In mid-March 2020, the DRC discussed the potential impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic for people with disability and the NDIS and agreed to
actions to try to prevent or minimise these impacts.[11]
As part of the DRC response, the NDIA introduced new measures to better support
NDIS participants, workers and providers.[12]
On 15 April 2020, in response to the statement of concern
from the Royal Commission, the Minister for Families and Social Services, the
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Minister for
Health provided an outline
of steps taken by the Commonwealth of Australia in response to the COVID-19
pandemic in relation to people with disability. This document provides an
overview of the response of the Australian Government under the identified
areas, including a section on activities for First Nations people with
disability.
On 21 May 2020, the Australian Government announced that a
new national skill set, Entry into Care Roles, had been endorsed
by the COVID-19 sub-committee of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee
(AISC). This introductory skill set is for both the disability and aged care
sectors.[15]
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Milestones
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Details
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Source Documents
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18 March 2020
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Outcomes were announced following the COAG DRC meeting
which ‘discussed a national response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, particularly its potential impact on people with disability and the
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)’. The following priorities
were agreed at the meeting:
Ensure appropriate
consideration is given to people with disability and the disability services
sector in the health response, including access to telehealth, infection
control training and personal protective equipment.
Ensure the ongoing
delivery of core NDIA service delivery as part of the NDIA’s Pandemic
Plan, including the shift from face-to-face planning to telephone planning,
and the redirecting of NDIA staff and partners to priority service delivery
roles that support participants in response to COVID-19.
Ensure the
continuation of services to NDIS participants through the extension and
increased flexibility of NDIS plans where necessary so that the NDIA can
focus on reviewing plans that may require amendment in response to the impact
of COVID-19.
Ensure appropriate
plans are in place to respond to any workforce shortages that may arise as a
result of COVID-19.
Ensure providers are
supported to remain viable during the period of impact of COVID-19 and
beyond.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), Meeting
of the COAG Disability Reform Council, media release, 18 March 2020.
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21 March 2020
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New measures to support NDIS participants, workers and
providers through the COVID-19 outbreak were announced by the Australian
Government. The measures included:
NDIS plans to be
extended by up to 24 months, ensuring continuity of support and increasing
capacity of NDIA staff to focus on urgent and required changes to plans.
Face to face
planning shifted to telephone meetings where possible.
Action plan to
ensure NDIS participants and their families continue to receive the essential
disability supports they need.
Proactive outreach
to high-risk participants and sharing of data with states and territories to
ensure continuity of supports.
Financial assistance
to providers to support retention of workers including advance payments, 10
per cent COVID-19 loading on some supports and changes to cancellation
policies.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), New
measures to support NDIS participants and providers through COVID-19,
media release, 21 March 2020.
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30 March 2020
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The South Australian Government announced the
introduction of welfare calls for the state’s most vulnerable during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Trained staff would contact those who registered for
the service to check on their wellbeing.
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S Marshall (Premier of South Australia) and M Lensink
(Minister for Human Services), New
COVID-19 welfare calls activated for our most vulnerable, joint media
release, 30 March 2020.
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3 April 2020
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Announcement by the Australian Government of the
establishment of a national advisory group ‘to guide development and
implementation of a response plan focusing on the unique health needs of
people with disability during the coronavirus pandemic’.
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G Hunt (Minister for Health), A Ruston (Minister for
Families and Social Services) and S Robert (Minister for the National
Disability Insurance Scheme), Immediate
response plan to focus on people with disability during coronavirus, joint
media release, 3 April 2020.
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5 April 2020
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A new collaboration between the NDIA and leading
supermarkets was announced. NDIS participants would be able to receive
priority home delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), NDIS
participants to receive priority home delivery from leading supermarkets,
media release, 5 April 2020.
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7 April 2020
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The Queensland Government released a statement
outlining support available to people with a disability during COVID-19
pandemic. This support included:
- Community Recovery Hotline to arrange for the delivery of
essentials
- funding to Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) to
produce a range of resources to assist people with disability in
understanding COVID-19
- the development of a Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness
Planning Tool
- funding for the Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA) to
develop a Business Continuity Toolkit and guide to support organisations.
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C O’Rourke (Minister for Disability Services and
Seniors), COVID-19
support for Queenslanders with disability, media release 7 April 2020.
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9 April 2020
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Additional support for people with a disability was announced
by the Australian Government:
An extra $24.5
million will be made available to Australian Disability Enterprises [ADEs] through
the Temporary Viability Support program to help organisations transition to
new opportunities to create jobs for people with intellectual and cognitive
disabilities as the economy recovers.
More than $3 million
will extend the Supported Wage System supplementation to 37 ADEs who
currently use the system.
Up to $61 million
will be available to Disability Employment Service providers as an advance
payment of six weeks on service fees to ensure participants can continue to
access support during this time.
$2 million will be
used to establish a dedicated phone line to provide accessible information,
and counselling and outreach services to assist people with disability.
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A Ruston (Minister for Families and Social Services)
and S Robert (Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme), Supporting
Australians most at risk in the wake of coronavirus, joint media
release 9 April 2020.
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16 April 2020
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The Western Australian Government launched a free
essential shopping delivery service for vulnerable individuals isolated in
their homes, including people with a disability.
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S Dawson (Minister for Disability Services), Essential
shopping service launches for people with disability, media release,
16 April 2020.
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18 April 2020
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The National Cabinet announced it had agreed to
release and begin implementing the Management
and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability. The
Plan provides ‘high-level guidance on a range of factors that need to
be considered in managing and preventing the transmission of COVID-19 for
people with disability’.
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G Hunt (Minister for Health), A Ruston (Minister for
Families and Social Services) and S Robert (Minister for the National
Disability Insurance Scheme), Protecting
the lives of Australians with disability during coronavirus, joint media
release, 18 April 2020.
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21 April 2020
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The Australian Capital Territory Government welcomed
the release of the Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People
with Disability. The ACT Government stated it was also developing an ACT
Disability COVID-19 Strategy to address some of the local issues not covered
in the national plan.
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S Orr (Minister for Disability) and R Stephen-Smith
(Minister for Health), More
support for Canberrans living with disability during COVID-19, joint media
release, 21 April 2020.
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23 April 2020
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The Australian Government announced further changes to
student visa work conditions affecting the aged care and disability
workforce.
International
students studying relevant medical courses will be exempt from the usual
40-hour per fortnight work limit, if they are working in support of
coronavirus health efforts and at the direction of the relevant health
authority. International students currently working for registered disability
service providers will also be exempt.
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A Tudge (Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship,
Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs), G Hunt (Minister for Health) and
S Robert (Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme), Boosting
health and disability worker numbers during the coronavirus, joint media
release, 23 April 2020.
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The Australian Government announced $400 million for
the Partners in the Community grants program, to deliver frontline Local Area
Coordination Services for the NDIS in NSW.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), $400
million for frontline NDIS services in NSW, media release, 23 April
2020.
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27 April 2020
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Further initiatives to support NDIS participants and
providers through COVID-19 were announced by the Australian Government. These
include:
For the next five
months, eligible participants will be able to flexibly use existing NDIS plan
funding to purchase low-cost Assistive Technology, including smart devices,
to enable continued access to disability supports through telehealth and
telepractice while physical distancing regulations are in place for
coronavirus pandemic.
… new support
items for Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers are now available
where a participant has been diagnosed with the Coronavirus, including higher
intensity support and professional cleaning services.
… downloadable
Access Request and Supporting Evidence Forms are now available on the NDIS
website.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), Further
initiatives to support NDIS participants and providers during coronavirus
pandemic, media release, 27 April 2020.
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28 April 2020
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The Australian Government announced that 500,000 face
masks would be provided for the disability sector, to be distributed evenly
between Primary Health Networks and the NDIA.
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G Hunt (Minister for Health), Doorstop
interview about the COVIDSafe app and coronavirus (COVID-19),
transcript, 28 April 2020.
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1 May 2020
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The Western Australian Government launched a Jobs in
WA Disability Services website to reduce the time and effort required to
apply for jobs in the disability sector, particularly for those whose
employment has been affected by COVID-19.
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S Dawson (Minister for Disability Services), Jobs
in WA Disability Services website launches, media release, 1 May
2020.
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6 May 2020
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The Victorian Government announced funding of $17
million for additional services to support people with a disability during
COVID-19. Initiatives included:
- new Disability Liaison Officers in health services
- additional funding for advocacy organisations
- additional respite care hours for carers
- extension of Home and Community Care Program for Younger People
- additional funding for organisations helping Victorians with
psychosocial disabilities
- expansion of the Department of Health and Human Services
Intensive Support Team
-
additional funding for the Office of the Public Advocate
- additional funding to help smaller not-for-profit services with
infection control and business continuity
- partnership with the Victorian Disability Advisory Council to
provide information.
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L Donnellan (Minister for Disability, Ageing and
Carers), Supporting
Victorians with disability during coronavirus, media release, 6 May
2020.
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11 May 2020
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The COAG Disability Reform Council meeting communique discussed
national efforts to support people with a disability through the COVID-19
pandemic. The meeting noted the Coronavirus response measures implemented so
far, including implementation of the Management and Operational Plan for
People with Disability. The Advisory Committee will monitor its ongoing
implementation. Several recent measures were highlighted, particularly in
relation to the disability workforce.
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Council of Australian Governments Disability Reform
Council, Communique,
COAG DRC Meeting, 11 May 2020.
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New data released from the Australian Government
showing around 27,500 people with disability joined the NDIS in the first
quarter of 2020.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), Morrison
Government continues rollout of the NDIS in face of coronavirus,
media release, 11 May 2020.
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12 May 2020
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The South Australian Government introduced legislative
changes to ‘keep South Australians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic’.
They included measures that allow community visitors and the Chief
Psychiatrist to visit and inspect mental health and disability services
remotely, through audio-visual or other electronic means.
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V Chapman (Attorney-General), New
protections for South Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic, media
release, 12 May 2020.
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18 May 2020
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The ACT Government launched the ACT
COVID-19 Disability Strategy.
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S Orr (Minister for Disability), ACT
COVID-19 disability strategy to provide more support to vulnerable Canberrans,
media release, 18 May 2020.
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19 May 2020
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The Northern Territory Government announced it would match
Australian Government funding of $400,000 to provide low cost infection
control training for businesses in the NT, including in the disability
sector.
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M Cash (Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and
Family Business) and P Kirby (NT Acting Minister for Workforce Training), $800,000 for
infection control training for territory businesses, joint media
release, 19 May 2020.
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21 May 2020
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The Australian Government announced the development of
new training qualifications for the aged care and disability support
workforce ‘to deal with the challenges put by COVID-19’.
The new Entry into Care Roles skill set ‘will provide foundational
knowledge and skills, including safe work practices and infection prevention
procedures’.
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M Cash (Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and
Family Business) and S Irons (Assistant Minister for Vocational Education,
Training and Apprenticeships), New
skill set to support aged and disability sectors joint media release,
21 May 2020.
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The Western Australian Government announced it would defer
transition to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission until 1 December
2020, to allow disability providers to better focus on critical support
issues for people with disability during the COVID-19 pandemic. It would also
provide $2 million via the Sector Transition Fund to help the disability
sector meet the requirements of the NDIS Commission.
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S Dawson (Minister for Disability Services), More
time for transition to Quality and Safeguards Commission, media
release, 21 May 2020.
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12 June 2020
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Post-coronavirus changes to the NDIS, to apply from 1 July
2020, were announced:
- removal of temporary 10 per cent price loading on certain core
and capacity building supports;
- definition of cancellation period is reduced from 10 days to
levels under the previous policy; and
- Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) period will be returned to the
original policy of 90 days (rolled back from 180 days).
The changes followed
a review of temporary measures to support participants and disability
providers during the pandemic.
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S Robert (Minister for the National Disability
Insurance Scheme), Update
on NDIS coronavirus response, media release, 12 June 2020.
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26 June 2020
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Following the launch of the ACT COVID-19 Disability
Strategy, the ACT Government announced support to people with disability,
their families, carers and the disability sector in their response to
COVID-19. Funding under the first phase included:
- $100,000 for both Aged, Disability and Carer Advocacy Service
(ADACAS) and Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI) to provide individual advocacy for
people with disability to be delivered through health settings.
-
$110,000 to National Disability Services to be a central point
of contact to support necessary collaborations in the ACT disability sector
allowing people to get consistent information in a timely manner.
- $40,000 to create a targeted communication partnership for
engaging people who are vulnerable and isolated.
- $50,000 to ensure that thin markets in the disability sector remain
viable including services that provide specialist supports such as positive
behaviour support.
- Continued support to ensure that people with disability and
their supporters can access Personal Protective Equipment as they need to.
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S Orr (Minister for Disability), More
funding to support Canberrans with disability, media release,
26 June 2020.
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