CSSA executive director Monique Earsman said any g8enuine attempt to assist those struggling with the NDIA bureaucracy is welcome.
“Families are often placed under unnecessary stress accessing the scheme and then face ongoing challenges maintaining the required level of care for themselves and their loved ones,” Ms Earsman said.
The new scheme is designed to cut the backlog of more than 4500 cases currently listed before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
Announcing the new scheme last week, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said the number of appeals stuck in the ATT was unacceptable.
Mr Shorten said the overuse of external lawyers hired by the NDIA to run cases in the AAT had created a “David-and-Goliath struggle” between the agency and people with disability.
“As minister, I want the process to change so participants are treated with (more) respect than they currently are,” he said.
The Government has appointed Graeme Innes, the former disability discrimination commissioner, to chair a new independent oversight committee to review the disputes.
The oversight committee will appoint expert reviewers to look at existing AAT cases, starting with an initial 15 or 20 matters.
Yesterday, Mr Shorten announced the appointment of former Paralympian Kurt Fearnley as the new chair of the NDIA, marking the first time someone with a disability has held the role.
FULL STORY
New fast track process proposed to speed up NDIS appeals (CSSA)
Former Paralympian Kurt Fearnley appointed as new NDIA chair (9news.com.au)
PHOTO
Kurt Fearnley (Australian Paralympic Committee/Australian Sports Commission/Wikipedia/)
