NDIS Review & National Cabinet: WAAMH welcomes foundational supports and seeks WA psychosocial investment plan

The Western Australian Association for Mental Health welcomes National Cabinet’s announcement yesterday to invest in foundational supports for people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS, and the call for significant reform outlined in the landmark NDIS Review report released today.

“We know that investment in community based psychosocial supports outside the NDIS will reduce avoidable hospital admissions, relieve pressure on our community treatment services and make our health system more sustainable.  These supports have never been available through our public or private mental health services but are already well established in the community sector.” said WAAMH's CEO, Ms. Taryn Harvey .

“We welcome National Cabinet’s announcement to fund foundational supports for people who are not eligible for the NDIS.  We now await the outcomes of the assessment of unmet need for psychosocial supports outside the NDIS that is currently underway and due to be presented in March 2024 to give us a clearer sense of the number of people who need support. 

“We now look to the state government to negotiate a localised psychosocial investment plan to respond to WA’s specific gaps and priorities that integrates effectively to other service systems to help safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of Western Australians living with significant and ongoing mental health conditions.”

A new Federal Funding Agreement will be negotiated in due course, and legislative changes are due in 2024 to improve NDIS participant experiences.

The final NDIS review report found the scheme should be one part of a greater system which urges governments over the next five years to build up mainstream disability services, or foundational supports, outside the NDIS for those in need of services who cannot access the scheme.  Among the changes proposed is a rethink of the disability support system, including a five-year transition for some people from the NDIS scheme to foundational supports.

“A targeted NDIS amid a broader landscape of supports was always the vision for the NDIS.  As the peak body representing community mental health in Western Australia and the unique role of the community mental health sector, we will continue to advocate for better services that enable recovery, and we welcome the opportunity to work with governments to help strengthen the system.” said Ms Taryn Harvey.

Media contacts:

Taryn Harvey
Chief Executive Officer
WA Association for Mental Health
0488 661 277
tharvey@waamh.org.au

Michelle Kelly
Communications Specialist
WA Association for Mental Health
08 6246 3027
communications@waamh.org.au