I'll be tweeting bits of this #NDISJSC hearing, with @mdi_unimelb up first. I reckon Bruce Bonyhady will be talking about his very strong submission against independent assessments.

https://disability.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3623987/Independent-Functional-Assessment-An-Analysis-of-the-Proposed-Approach-by-the-NDIA-Final-22-February-2021.pdf

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-18/ndis-architect-bruce-bonyhady-slams-independent-assessments/13256160 https://twitter.com/AuSenate/status/1385360264938201088

Audio only, so I'll just have to imagine the expressions of different MPs and Senators as they hear the evidence. It will also make it more challenging to know who is talking, but will do my best. Please feel free to mute #NDISJSC!

Bruce Bonyhady kicks things off with an opening statement, thanking the JSC for their scrutiny of the Scheme. Says the changes proposed will fundamentally damage the NDIS, and he totally opposes them. #NDISJSC

He will refer to changes as robo-planning, because independent assessments is a misnomer. Says this is disgrace because it uses tools that weren't designed for this purpose, abandons goal based planning (a foundation of the NDIS) and NDIA seeking total power and control. #NDISJSC

Says this will tear up social contract at heart of NDIS that says anyone with severe disability can get supports they need. These reforms have caused huge amounts of distress, and 'trust is at new lows' which is extraordinary given NDIS exist solely for disabled people. #NDISJSC

I think it's Andrews asking the question here - wants to know more about what Bonyhady said about the tools not being fit for purpose. #NDISJSC

Bonyhady is talking about how these tools are used with accident insurance schemes which usually deal with small number of disability - not clear how they will work for the hundreds of different types in the NDIS. #NDISJSC

Accident schemes seek to restore loss, whereas the NDIS is about whole families. All this means that these tools have to be tested, which happened in the early days of the NDIS (as outlined in his submission). #NDISJSC

Bonyhady says the three previous trials of this kind of testing failed and were scrapped.
Trials also showed the primacy of goals first, whereas robo-planning doesn't. #NDISJSC

These tools/robo-planning are going to be used to develop budgets first, then goals. Taking research about 100 people and rolling that out to hundreds of thousands of people. #NDISJSC

[This is an absolute demolition of independent assessments btw from Bonyhady]. #NDISJSC

BB says there is no evidence about combining the different tools that are proposed to be used, and reckons there will be an algorithm that will sit behind these tools (oh god ) #NDISJSC

BB says tools available to test people with cerebral palsy work differently for autistic people, so wild that they can claim that they will work across disability. #NDISJSC

These tools have never been used to drive resource allocation, which is what is proposed. Never been done anywhere in the world. Will restrict any challenges to this by making them 'not delegates of the CEO'. #NDISJSC

Agency is deliberately constructing these tools in a way that can't be scrutinised. #NDISJSC

Plan flexibility is critical, but is not dependent on independent assessments. During COVID, for example, people had flexibility around spending on support coordination, but that's been changed back now. #NDISJSC

Senator Carol Brown is now asking the questions. She says it seems the NDIS is at a fork in the road, and how important this debate about robo-planning is. Asks why we are going down this path away from the intent of the NDIS? #NDISJSC

BB says real driver of this is cost cutting. In July last year, NDIS costs were consistent with original estimates and was sustainable, so what has happened since? What has the Agency been doing? Someone needs to be accountable. #NDISJSC

Previously, it was ok to say that NDIS was demand driven - why isn't that ok now?
Sustainability is very different to cost. Sustainability is about the long term. Hundreds, thousands of assumptions that go into sustainability claims, but we don't know what they are. #NDISJSC

Even if costs are an issues, robo-planning isn't the issue.
Cost pressures are on people coming into the Scheme - needs urgent supports for people who are Tier 2 (not individual support packages). Keeps creating pressure.
Second is SIL and SDA. #NDISJSC

Both of these were entirely known and predictable, but the NDIA has taken no action, or market stewardship. #NDISJSC

Senator Brown asks if this was part of original plan for NDIS? BB says no, never. Says they have a misguided idea, and need to take a very different approach to planning - multi disciplinary teams etc as per his submission. #NDISJSC

https://disability.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3623987/Independent-Functional-Assessment-An-Analysis-of-the-Proposed-Approach-by-the-NDIA-Final-22-February-2021.pdf

BB raises one of the KEY issues that have been raised for YEARS - that the Agency doesn't have enough people or resources to do this properly. #NDISJSC

BB says no point completing a flawed trial with flawed tools. Go back to drawing board and engage in true co-design and consultation. #NDISJSC

Now it's Senator Steele-John - asking what the key differences are between original PC report, Tune review and what is being proposed. #NDISJSC

BB says we need to look at the evidence. If that evidence says that these tools can assist with planning process, we should use them, but vital to also use evidence/reports from people who know the disabled person. #NDISJSC

Steele-John asks if the point of all this is to kick people off the NDIS. BB agrees. The lack of review means decisions aren't clear, and formulas could be changed to really narrow who is eligible, as well as support amounts. #NDISJSC

BB says this shows clear need for better governance of the NDIA - better safeguards. Wants the JSC to have more formal governance role. Must be much stronger checks and balances because this can't happen again. #NDISJSC

Steele-John is asking about Tier 2 - BB says original PC report said this was for disabled people not eligible for NDIS would have other supports. Now receive about $40/yr per head. There is a cliff at the edge of the NDIS, so people fight hard to get into Scheme. #NDISJSC

Needs more investment in Tier two, so people can live a reasonable life when not eligible for the NDIS. (THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. There is mostly nothing, no support at all if you are disabled and aren't in the NDIS.) #NDISJSC

BB says at the heart of all this is an issue of culture and trust. Trust between disability community and the NDIA is at an all time low. If this trust isn't restored, there is no chance of doing anything about sustainability - creates perverse incentives. #NDISJSC

Says we are at a crossroads. The NDIS could go and achieve its original vision, or it can be lost to robo-planning. #NDISJSC

Next is the Australian Psychological Society. Here's their media release about their submission - not fans of independent assessments.

https://psychology.org.au/About-Us/news-and-media/Media-releases/2021/Psychologists-concerned-about-proposed-changes-to

#NDISJSC

Raising concerns about inexperience of assessors, whether the tools are appropriate and have evidence, and if the model will adequately measure complex disability. APS questions entire validity of this approach. Raised concerns from Feb 2020. #NDISJSC

Concerned about the lack of review, tranparent evidence from trial, lack of timely communication and bottom up consultation. Calls for expert consultancy group to over see independent assessments (NOOO!!) #NDISJSC

Agrees with what BB said, in particular about the concerns about the tools. #NDISJSC

APS says NDIS has failed to consult. Putting stuff on a website is not consultation. There is a provider newsletter, but there is no similar newsletter to peak bodies. APS was involved in a two month project around independent assessments with five other peak bodies. #NDISJSC

APS has has no response to any of the feedback they provided about that trial. It's as bad as Centrelink, he says. #NDISJSC

Says if there was a handbook to be written about how not to consult, it would be written by the NDIA. #NDISJSC

APS says independent assessments are a solution that won't solve the problem, particularly of equity and access. #NDISJSC

Next questions are coming from Dr Fiona Martin about difference between diagnostic assessments and independent assessments around funding #NDISJSC

APS says they are two very different processes. Tools have to be fair, have evidence, be fit for purpose etc which doesn't fit with model for independent assessments. #NDISJSC

[The NBN person is here trying to fix my internet, so mobile hot spotting for now and will see how much I can tweet]

Stop speaking for us, and start listening to us. Yes! @CydaAu #NDISJSC

@maryjsayers is talking about the fear in the community about the impact on children of having a stranger doing independent assessments. #NDISJSC

People still have to get expensive diagnostic assessments done, with independent assessments in place, which means they won't work to fix equity issues. #NDISJSC

Senator Brown is asking why @CydaAu thinks this process is bogus. #NDISJSC

The evaluation is not testing the implications of having an independent assessment, just what having one was like. People still aren't getting copies of their independent assessments, so hard to adequately evaluate them. #NDISJSC

CYDA was told by NDIS CEO that talking about or implementation of independent assessments was not negotiable, which is not real consultation. #NDISJSC

NDIA was only consulting on HOW to implement. Have been meeting since last year to outline concerns to the Agency, but everything has been ignored. #NDISJSC

Gi is talking about how the independent assessments will take away choice and control because there is no space for the needs to the whole family, the total amount of support. #NDISJSC

NDIA is tying all reforms to independent assessments, such as flexible planning, and saying they are only possible with independent assessments which isn't true. #NDISJSC

Need to do a proper, rigorous evaluation of the independent assessments, and is urging Minister Reynolds to do that. The pause is for the legislation, but the flawed trial is still currently going ahead. #NDISJSC

@maryjsayers is talking about the inequities in getting diagnostic testing for many people and families, and long waiting lists. Points to their submission about what best practice for doing this is, which isn't what the independent assessments are doing. #NDISJSC

[Dr Martin is again asking very specific questions about the difference between diagnostic and independent assessments. It's not clear why she's doing this or what it has to do with the independent assessment inquiry.] #NDISJSC

Gi is now talking about their five month autism assessment, and contrasting it with the proposed independent assessment. #NDISJSC

CYDA says it's very unclear how other information (beyond the independent assessments) will be used for the personalised budgeting tool. #NDISJSC

CYDA says they haven't been able to have their concerns heard by the NDIA, including not even having it on the agenda at meetings. Agency hasn't consulted. #NDISJSC

Oh this is such moving evidence from Gi, talking about their home, and the impact of a stranger coming with a checklist. Says it makes them feel like not a person, like they aren't valued, terrifies them. A very inhumane way to treat disabled people. #NDISJSC

Gi has already had many traumatic encounters with health care, and all this leaves them with no guarantee of enough support or the right support or they will be protected from bullying or gaslighting. #NDISJSC

Taking a quick break, and they are running about an hour behind. #NDISJSC

Allied health folk aren't holding back at all. Saying that independent assessments are a screening tool, should not be used to assess eligibility. #NDISJSC

They've shared an alternative model in their submission. @otaust that is. So many alt-models in submissions! Almost as though the NDIA is totally not listening. #NDISJSC

Senator Brown is asking about the description of 'doctor shopping' from the government to support independent assessments. Allied health folk disagree with this description. #NDISJSC

Both groups confirming they haven't been consulted. Want the NDIA to go back to the drawing board. #NDISJSC

Have concerns across the board - with the model, with the way the assessors were selected etc. Any model must support choice and control and by trauma-informed - this independent assessments model aren't trauma informed. #NDISJSC

[The NBN person went off to investigate the pit and hasn't returned. Of course this means the worst, when it comes to me getting internet again.]

It's also not clear about what's going to happen to the data collected during independent assessments, now or in the future. #NDISJSC

Share CYDA's concerns - pilot is not looking at the outcomes of the independent assessments, which makes that flawed. #NDISJSC

Next up is @ypinh with very strong concerns about the impact of independent assessments on younger people in aged care. Asking why the NDIS is being subjected to proposed limits when other public services are not, such as education or health. #NDISJSC

Is also asking why the interface issues between states/territories, other programs and the NDIS, which would allow the NDIS to share risk. We work in these interfaces every day, and it's naive to expect the NDIS to be the sole solution. #NDISJSC

One failure is the lack of the National Injury Insurance Scheme which has not been completed, and has been named as a risk to the NDIS. #NDISJSC

Dr Morkham is now talking about the strategy to get younger people out of aged care. Says independent assessments doesn't fit with this at all. #NDISJSC

https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-programs-services-for-people-with-disability-younger-people-with-disability-in-residential-aged-care-initiative/younger-people-in-residential-aged-care-strategy-2020-25

The kind of complexity that YPINH is talking about, where the support buck gets passes between health, aged care and the NDIS, is so important. The NDIS is already not enough for disabled people in aged care, and this proposal will make this whole situation worse. #NDISJSC

[NBN person came back and reckon's he's fixed my internet, which will be amazing. Such a lifeline for me.]

Fiona Sharkie is talking about the research that's been done by the Autism CRC to find appropriate assessment tools for autism, and whether that's been taken into account for independent assessments. #NDISJSC

There already are 'thin markets' in regional areas for allied health, such as OTs, so what will independent assessments do to this? #NDISJSC

These tools have never been used anywhere in the world to determine the amount of funding/support a disabled person should get. #NDISJSC

Ok, back after a brief break, and we're going to hear now from people with disability who are giving short statements. #NDISJSC

"Trying to function in a world not built for disabled people is exhausting." I feel that so hard. #NDISJSC

[Really sorry, I missed this person's name]

They are autistic, and has had jobs and friends. Over time, was less able to cope, at worst, spent over six months in bed. Over several months, diagnosed with several psychosocial disability. #NDISJSC

Diagnosis was expensive and hard to get. This should not be the privilege of the wealthy. Independent assessments would never be able to do the kind of detailed work. #NDISJSC

They say that NDIS supports have been life changing, and they have been stable for the first time, and are planning to take on some paid work. Only possible because their plan reflects their specific goals. Huge benefit to their wellbeing. #NDISJSC

They are terrified of independent assessments, and will find them really traumatising. Afraid a doctor who doesn't know them will incorrectly diagnose them, and cut supports. #NDISJSC

[I am getting so teary listening to this evidence. They thank the whistle blowers who are giving them hope that these changes may not happen.] #NDISJSC

So many stories of how life changing the NDIS has been for many disabled people and their families, and their very real fears that all this will be destroyed. #NDISJSC

Evidence from OTs from St Vincents in Melbourne. Saying that it's well known that people over estimate their functioning, compared to clinicians, when using the type of tools being proposed for independent assessments. #NDISJSC

And that's it for today. Big thanks to everyone who gave evidence, told their story, and wrote submissions. Back on Tuesday for the next hearing. #NDISJSC