ATSA has worked on behalf of its members and AT consumers to address these many concerns; submitting responses to the amended NDIS Act, ensuring effective co-design in NDIS reform, the NDIS pricing review, NDIS taskforce and more recently the new list of NDIS supports.
ATSA has also worked alongside professional colleagues on joint initiatives, such as the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association, to call on the NDIA to find solutions to the significant delays in AT approvals that have dogged the scheme for the past 12 months.
These delays significantly affect those users who need this vital equipment and put huge financial strain on many of our respective organisations’ members. This issue has seen some recent improvement, but is a long way from fixed, with the NDIA’s own data showing that currently only 40.89 per cent of all funds committed to AT supports were spent in 23/24 (even less than the 46.9 per cent in 22/23).
It is imperative that capacity within the NDIS is increased to enable them to get on top of the backlog of approvals and get this vital equipment out the doors and into the hands of participants.
As the Support at Home Aged Care reforms are also progressed, ATSA has provided comment to the Aged Care Act and Aged Care funding taskforce. ATSA remains keenly focused on ensuring the current Federal Government AT loan pool pilot, (being trialled through EnableNSW in two NSW jurisdictions), is robust and independently and thoroughly evaluated, in order to provide clear indication of it being fit for purpose in the longer term.
ATSA is disappointed that the trial is not being run alongside other models of delivery to assess the benefits and disadvantages of all and to find the best pathway forward but will be engaging with members and consumers involved (or in area) to gauge the effect this method has on AT provision.
ATSA is also embarking on independent research in this area to assist with its work in this sector.
ATSA intends to keep advocating for the best outcomes for our membership and AT users as we pursue these and other issues on its members behalf.
Alongside its policy and advocacy work, it is also delivering the ATSA Independent Living Expos across Australia, this year launching the first in Adelaide in March and returned to Sydney and Brisbane once more, for two of the most successful events to date.
ATSA expos are unique in the sector, providing opportunities for allied health professionals and consumers alike to visit the numerous exhibitors, trial equipment and learn more about what is available in the current market.
This year, ATSA made the decision to manage the expos in-house, parting ways with Interpoint Events after many years of collaboration. We thank them for their dedication, and we look forward to continuing the expos’ success.
If you haven’t been to an expo or aren’t yet a member of ATSA – it’s time to come on board and gain the support and backing of the national industry body as we continue to improve the assistive technology sectors and markets.
To learn more visit www.atsa.org.au or call (02) 8006 7357.
