List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

5.66

The committee recommends that the Australian Government facilitate an independent review of the funding model for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with a particular focus on:

exploring whether it is appropriate for the National Disability Insurance Agency to have responsibility for price settings for NDIS supports;

ensuring that prices reflect the 'true' cost of service delivery, including training, supervision, case management and other non-client-facing work;

addressing impacts of the funding model on the nature of work within the NDIS, including the implications for support workers, allied health professionals and others;

addressing the impacts of the funding model on the quality and safety of supports and services for NDIS participants; and

exploring alternative funding models where negative impacts are identified.

Recommendation 2

5.72

The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency consider the concerns relating to the cost model for disability support workers raised in this report in the next annual pricing review.

Recommendation 3

5.73

The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency ensure all pricing reviews are conducted in full consultation with people with disability, support workers and representative organisations.

Recommendation 4

6.93

The committee recommends that the Australian Government review options to develop a national registration and accreditation scheme for disability support workers, as the product of a co-design process with relevant appropriate people. This should include developing national benchmarks for skills, qualifications and competencies which reflect the diversity of people with disability, and which are co-designed by appropriate industry bodies, people with disability and representative organisations, support workers and unions, and other key stakeholders.

Recommendation 5

6.97

The committee recommends that the Australian Government, through the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and the National Skills Commission, conduct a thorough analysis of the skills and qualifications required in the disability workforce, informed by extensive consultation with people with disability, support workers, representative organisations and tertiary education providers.

Recommendation 6

6.98

The committee recommends that—following the needs analysis to which Recommendation 5 refers—the Australian Government facilitate a review of current vocational education and training programs and university courses in disability care and allied health, to ensure that such programs capture the training needs of the National Disability Insurance Scheme workforce and reflect current best practice.

Recommendation 7

7.52

The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop, publish and implement a peer workforce strategy, co-designed by people with disability and peak bodies.

Recommendation 8

7.56

The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency develop, publish and implement an education strategy for participants, co-designed by people with disability, peak bodies and training providers.

Recommendation 9

7.60

The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency consider expanding its existing graduate program to include graduates of Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs.

Recommendation 10

7.61

The committee recommends that the National Disability Insurance Agency review its recruitment and application processes, with a view to identifying and removing barriers to applications from people with disability.

Recommendation 11

8.84

The committee recommends that the Commonwealth, states and territories, through the appropriate inter-governmental forum, consider the matter of allied health workforce maldistribution and implications for service access for people in regional, rural and remote Australia, and develop strategies for enabling workforce distribution, sustainability and growth.

Recommendation 12

8.91

The committee recommends that the Australian Government develop, publish and implement a national strategy for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce, co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and community leaders, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and other key stakeholders.

Recommendation 13

9.22

The committee recommends that the Australian Government develop and implement a national data strategy for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including a national minimum dataset on the NDIS workforce.

Recommendation 14

9.37

The committee recommends that the Australian Government develop and implement a strategy to market the disability sector as an employer of choice.

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