In June 2023, WWDA staff submitted WWDA’s response to Issues Paper – NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework as part of the NDIS Review. The letter was submitted alongside WWDA’s submission to the Disa.bility Royal Co.mmission (DRC) in response to the Safeguards & Quality Issues Paper.
WWDA’s letter responded to the following questions:
- What is working well about the Framework? What is not working well to promote safeguards of people with disability and the quality of supports?
- Is there still a need for a Framework? What role should it play and what should it look like?
- What monitoring of the implementation and ongoing effectiveness of the Framework is required?
- What supports, services and actors should the Framework cover?
- How could these actors work together better to deliver a coordinated approach to quality and safeguarding? What changes are required to the roles and responsibilities of different actors in the Framework?
- What changes are required to the types of strategies and measures implemented under the Framework?
“Our recommendations are set out in greater detail in our DR.C Submission. However, as outlined above, the Framework must provide for consistent standards and developmental strategies to ensure the safety of people with disability and to equip providers to quality assure their services. In relation to workers, this includes a harmonised approach to screening that extends beyond registered NDIS providers and to the disability sector at large, as well as changes to incident reporting and complaints-handling. The Framework must also provide for greater accountability measures, including regular and proactive inspections of services. A balance of priorities can be achieved with appropriate resource allocation, workforce development, and a tiered approach to regulation that does not compromise the human rights of people with disability.”
– WWDA’s Response to Issues Paper – NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework.