Geelong hearing examines NDIA

BY JAMES TAYLOR

THE head of the organisation rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has admitted in Geelong that there is much to do to improve the scheme.
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) chief executive officer Rebecca Falkingham was among several representatives from the agency at the public hearing for the Parliamentary joint standing committee on the NDIS’ inquiry into the NDIA’s capability and culture, which was held today (Monday, August 28).
Ms Falkingham has been CEO of the NDIA  – which has its headquarters in Geelong – for less than a year; appointed to the role in October 2022.
“I say to everyone: we have a long way to go for my goal of trust, transparency, compassion and consistency, right across our agency, but I feel really optimistic about the fact that we have, right across Australia, a workforce that is deeply committed to improving and to changing and to delivering the best outcomes possible for people with a disability,” she said.
Corangamite federal member Libby Coker chairs the joint standing committee on the NDIS but was not at Monday’s hearing, which was instead led by deputy chair Senator Hollie Hughes and also included Canberra federal member Alicia Payne (via speakerphone) and Kooyong federal member Dr Monique Ryan.
In response to a question from Dr Ryan about rorting of the NDIS, NDIA deputy chief executive officer Debbie Mitchell said the agency had a range of activities to detect the “spectrum” of fraud and non-compliance, including its Fraud Fusion Taskforce.
“We have an enormous amount of tip-offs, both from our internal staff and from the public.
“Our tip-offs have increased by 177 per cent in the past 12 months.”
She said the NDIA presently had 14 matters of alleged fraud worth a collective $15.4 million before the courts.
Other speakers at Monday’s hearing included representatives from NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and My Choice Group, as well as some statements from people with lived experience of disability and the NDIS.
The inquiry into the NDIA’s capability and culture has been holding hearings across Australia since November, but is no longer accepting submissions.
In October 2022, the federal government announced an independent review of the NDIS, which will look at the design, operations and sustainability of the scheme, as well as ways to make the market and workforce more responsive, supportive and sustainable.
A final report is expected to be delivered by the end of October this year.