MOD.A was invited to take part in the AT Design Hub workshop in Geelong on 7 and 8 March 2018 and our Board Director Janeen Lynch attended. The workshop focused on a proposed new process for assessing NDIS participants for their AT needs and for home modifications. A report from the workshop was drawn up by the NDIA and circulated to those present, including MOD.A, prior to Easter.

Whilst MOD.A welcomes a new approach to delivering home modifications to NDIS participants we continue to have significant concerns about NDIA's proposed new approach, and have put together a submission which outlines those concerns and makes recommendations to strengthen it. The submission represents a great deal of work done by MOD.A Board Directors and MOD.A members, as well as other stakeholders, and draws on the data gathered from the survey of MOD.A members about their experiences to date operating under the NDIS. It has been delivered to the NDIA with an invitation for further dialogue.

You can view our submission on the Submissions page of this website.

In response, Ms O'Neill, Branch Manager Market Commissioning NDIA said the agency was aware of the extent of the backlog and some inconsistencies in the review process, and has two projects underway which aim to:

• Free the significant backlog of complex home modifications awaiting approval
• Streamline the NDIS complex home modification report review process to promote consistency.

Ms O'Neill said the NDIA would make announcements on the progress of these projects in four months (February 2018).

MOD.A will consult with members to collect your input on ways to improve the complex home modification assessment process, particularly in relation to the scoping and cost estimation of proposed works, and aims to get back to the NDIA with the results of our consultation in the New Year (see Have Your Say to the NDIA).

MOD.A warned the NDIA that the availability of providers able to meet the service quality requirements of the NDIS was very limited and these businesses were seriously impacted by the current systemic and operational issues in the NDIS.

In a follow-up letter to the NDIA, MOD.A noted the recent release of theNDIS New Participant and Provider Pathway Experience, and offered to assist the NDIA by improving the agency's understanding of the end-to-end home modification process; developing guidance and standards for the delivery of complex home modification services; assisting our members to understand and apply the NDIS principles and meet the requirements of the NDIS: developing information about home modification services for NDIS agents, service providers and participants; and improving the connection between participants, quality service providers and NDIA agents through appropriate online, telephone and face-to-face information and support.

MOD.A understands home modification is a key strategy of the NDIA, one which demands an integrated response from our sector, including OTs, building design and construction professionals who are capable of delivering on participants' needs, meeting regulatory and compliance requirements, and achieving the objectives of the NDIA.

MOD.A will continue to lobby the NDIA to engage with the home modification sector via MODA as a matter of urgency to tackle immediate issues, promote a stable framework for services providers and to determine the longer term national approach for the assessment and supply of complex home modifications.

We encourage all members to complete the MOD.A members NDIs major home mods survey to be sent out shortly, or write to us in more detail to enable us to deliver clear messages to the NDIA on areas for service improvement.

HAVE YOUR SAY TO THE NDIA
MOD.A members are invited to provide the NDIA with suggestions on improving complex home modification assessment, building construction advice and cost estimation processes, following a meeting between MOD.A delegates and top NDIA officials in Geelong in October 2017.

In addition to the extension of CHSP and funding for MAC ICT Support, other key aged care related Budget 2017 announcements included:

• $67.314M invested in the modernising of health and aged care payment systems.
• $1.92M on the development of an aged care workforce strategy to connect with and complement the NDIS Integrated Market, Sector and Workforce Strategy.
• $8.3M over 3 years to boost funding for palliative care coordination through Primary Health Networks.