08 6156 6411
Contact Us
Ask Community Support Services
Latest Article | Posted 24th November, 2022

Celebrating International Day of People with Disability 2022

Celebrate International Day of People with Disability with Ask Community Support Services  International Day of People ...

Latest Ask News

Celebrating International Day of People with Disability 2022

Celebrate International Day of People with Disability with Ask Community Support Services 

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations observed day celebrated on 3 December each year to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

By acknowledging this important day, we can take action to remove barriers for the 4.4 million Australians with disability and contribute to positive change in our workplace and in the community more broadly.

This year Ask Community Support Services will mark International Day of People with Disability by hosting a morning tea and invite some our participant to share their story. 

We encourage all staff to get involved and join the celebration! Together, we can all take action to challenge perceptions about disability, remove barriers and promote inclusive and respectful attitudes and behaviours in our workplace.

For more information, please call the office on 08 6156 6411 or drop by the office.

More than 550,000 Australians now at centre of NDIS

The NDIS Quarterly Report shows there are now more than 550,000 Australians with disability receiving life changing support from the world leading Scheme.

The NDIS Quarterly Report for 30 September 2022 shows 554,917 participants are receiving NDIS support, with 23,137 new participants joining the NDIS this quarter.

National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) CEO Rebecca Falkingham PSM said the report showed the considerable impact the Scheme is having on participants, carers and families.

Figures show:

  • A 3 per cent increase – from 91 per cent to 94 per cent, of parents and carers of children aged 0 to before starting school who thought the NDIS improved their child’s development at their most recent plan reassessment.
  • A 12 per cent increase – from 61 per cent to 73 per cent, of parents and carers of children starting school to 14 years who felt their child had become more independent as a result of the NDIS at their most recent plan reassessment.
  • A 7 per cent increase – from 36 per cent to 43 per cent, for those aged 15 years and over participating in community and social activities.
  • A 10 per cent increase – from 11 per cent to 21 per cent for those aged 15 to 24 years participating in work.
  • A 10 per cent increase – from 41 per cent to 51 per cent, in employment rates amongst parents and carers the longer the participant is in the Scheme, from entry to the sixth plan reassessment.
  • A 10 per cent increase – from 51 per cent to 61 per cent, for participants aged 25 years and older who felt that their involvement with the NDIS improved their health and wellbeing at their most recent plan reassessment.
  • An 11 per cent increase – from 72 per cent to 83 per cent, of participants aged 25 and over who said the NDIS had helped them with daily living activities at their most recent plan reassessment.
  • Of new participants, 9.4 per cent identified as First Nations Australians and 8.9% identified as being from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community.
  •  A 46 per cent decrease in the number of people under the age of 65 in residential aged care since 30 September 2019 (including those who are not participants of the Scheme).

“I am encouraged to see improving employment opportunities for participants entering the workforce and participants increasing their social and community participation – these outcomes demonstrate the social and economic value of the NDIS,” Ms Falkingham said.

“The continued growth of the numbers of First Nations Australians and those identified as being from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community, entering the Scheme is also an important result and a continued focus for the Agency.”

The report also showed the impact of continued fraud and compliance activity, including proactively monitoring and responding to incorrect or unusual claims by registered providers.

This quarter:

  • the NDIA educated 2,700 registered providers on compliance when claiming.
  • ‘tip-offs’ received by the Agency’s Fraud Reporting and Scams Helpline increased to 3,361 compared to 2,320 for the same period in 2021-22.

Ms Falkingham also acknowledged the Federal Government’s announcement of the Independent Review of the NDIS to improve the wellbeing of Australians with disability and the scheme’s sustainability.

“We welcome the review and look forward to working with Government to implement any of the recommended improvements to the NDIS.”

Read the latest NDIA Quarterly Report.

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and NDIS

Media release from the Minister | 24 January 2022

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC has today confirmed that eligible NDIS participants can purchase rapid antigen tests with funding from their NDIS plan, to ensure safe access to their supports in current COVID-19 outbreaks.

Participants can use their core funding to purchase rapid antigen tests where it is required to access their reasonable and necessary supports.

“We know that rapid antigen tests are an important tool for ensuring that participants continue to access their disability-related supports,” Minister Reynolds said.

“NDIS participants can claim rapid antigen tests to ensure their continuity of services.”

This follows National Cabinet’s agreement on the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) guidance regarding the use of rapid antigen testing.

“This is another example of how we are supporting participants to use their funding flexibly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure they continue to receive the disability-related supports they need.”

Participants may also purchase rapid antigen tests for their support workers as needed to ensure they can safely receive supports, in line with AHPPC guidance.

This measure complements:

  • the Commonwealth program to provide free rapid antigen tests for concession card holders will commence today, which includes the majority of NDIS participants; and
  • the temporary NDIS program enabling eligible supported independent living participants and providers to claim up to $12.50 per rapid antigen test when a support worker is required to undergo COVID-19 testing to safely deliver supports to a participant.

There are also a number of COVID support measures which continue to be available to ensure participants are able to safely access their disability-related supports.

‘NDIS participants can use plan funds to claim for rapid antigen tests‘ is republished from ndis.gov.au under a Creative Commons licence.

Starting care is easy, just Ask:

Be part of the community! Contact us and find out about our services and how we can help you to achieve your goals today. We are here for you.

Get in Touch Today

08 6156 6411

info@askcss.com.au

Services

Quicklinks

Connect with us

Contact Us

Ask Community Support Services acknowledges and recognises the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we live and work, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise the objectives of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.