Key Recommendations of QLD Productivity Commission Inquiry into the NDIS Market in QLD
Improve Investment and Business Confidence Through Pricing
Recommendation 21
The NDIS should improve the business environment and investment conditions by giving
stakeholders confidence that, while price regulation remains, pricing decisions are made as part
of a rigorous process.
To this end, the Queensland Government should propose that:
• the NDIA increase the independence of the NDIA’s Pricing Reference Group. A Pricing
Commissioner should be appointed who would report directly to the NDIA Board and be
supported by a secretariat independent of the NDIA. The role of the Pricing Commissioner
should be to:
– chair the Pricing Reference Group
– provide advice on pricing methodologies and parameters
– ensure that the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has significant input into the
annual pricing review process and is able to review proposed changes prior to changes
being made
• NDIA Board decisions and supporting information be made public, to improve transparency
of decision-making
• these arrangements be reviewed as part of the Australian Productivity Commission’s
scheduled 2023 review of NDIS costs.
Streamline Access to SDA
The Queensland Government should propose that the NDIA streamline and align specialist
disability accommodation (SDA), home modification and supported independent living (SIL)
access processes, in order to provide faster access for participants and clearer signals to
providers. Participants’ eligibility should be determined regardless of their access to a support or
the presence of a provider.
Discussions about housing should be elevated in importance and occur early in planning
meetings. Application of the ‘reasonable and necessary’ criterion and reasons for housing
support decisions on access should be more clearly explained to promote greater consistency
and accountability. Participants with SDA in their plans should be funded at a level that allows
a reasonable degree of choice. The NDIA should also report regularly on the timeliness of
applications and decisions in relation to housing supports and SIL.
Increase the Amount of Market Information About Housing
Recommendation 31
The Queensland Government should propose that the NDIA increase the ready availability of
market information on the demand for and supply of housing supports (including SDA, medium
term accommodation (MTA), home modifications and independent living options (ILO)) and
supported independent living (SIL) support. This should include the preferences and needs of
participants likely to require housing support, while protecting participant privacy.
Information should be available on:
• the number and projected number of participant plans with SDA and SIL support funding, by:
– location at a detailed level
– type of accommodation required
– current living arrangements
• the number of existing SDA and SIL places, by:
– location at a detailed level
– occupancy status
– dwelling type, design category, size
– construction status
• the number of participants with MTA in their plans and MTA places, by:
– location
– dwelling type, design category, size
• the number of participants with ILO funding in their plans and ILO places, by:
– location
– dwelling type, design category, size
– vacancy rates
• for more general housing needs:
– location of participants by disability
– availability of accessible housing.
QLD Government Should Release Information on PWD in Social Housing and Health System
Recommendation 32
To inform the NDIS market of opportunities to house NDIS participants, the Queensland
Government should improve information it releases on NDIS participants in social housing and
public hospitals.
It should provide information on whether persons residing in social housing or as long term
hospital residents are NDIS participants seeking accessible housing. In doing so, the privacy
concerns of participants should be fully respected.
Such information should be made available with other NDIA disability housing data, and could
also be linked to the National Disability Data Asset.
Increase Education About Housing
Recommendation 33
The Queensland Government should propose that the NDIA investigate ways to educate:
• participants, planners and support coordinators about housing options available to
participants
• financial institutions and investors about the opportunities for investment in SDA.
NDIS participants who may require housing supports should be made aware of their options
and empowered to make decisions on which options best meet their reasonable and necessary
requirements. This should involve the provision of clear information, guides, including case
studies of how housing supports work and capacity building of participants, and upskilling of
planners and support coordinators.
The NDIA should encourage research on and innovation in housing options for NDIS participants.
Programs to encourage innovation and support education of housing and in-home care options
should be evaluated to ensure they are effective and modified where appropriate.
Strategies for Conflict of Interest Between SDA and SIL
Recommendation 34
The NDIA should outline a long-term approach to how it will deal with conflicts of interest
between SDA and SIL providers.
In the interim, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission should reduce conflicts of interest in
the provision of support coordination, SDA and SIL by:
• monitoring and publicly reporting on the overlap between these services
• investigating low-cost options to address conflicts, such as requiring providers to lodge
conflict of interest statements defining potential impacts on participants and measures taken
to mitigate impacts
• strengthening and enforcing independence of support coordinators in relation to SDA
and SIL providers.
