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National Disability Insurance Scheme Analysis

Decent Essays

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is considered a breakthrough policy in the Australian welfare system that is reinforced by neo-liberal ideals about choices. This essay will critically analyse the implementation of employing neo-liberal model on the NDIS and the impact of this on the people with disability and the society as a whole.
Firstly, in order to understand the implication of neo-liberals ideals about choices, understanding the concept is essential. Neoliberalism is implemented in majority of contemporary policy reforms in Australian society. It started with labour governments under Hawk’s leadership between 1983-1991, and is presently being implemented by the Howard government (Beder, 2005). Beder (2005) defines Neo-liberalism …show more content…

Furthermore, Secretary Steve Turner points out that the real agenda of NDIS is to free the government’s responsibility over people with disability. He states that disability services will not deliver the promise of choice for people, and instead suggested that privatising public services does not provide promising social services as it will decrease accountability from the government; cost more money in the long run and delivery no guarantee of success (Probonoaustralia.com.au, 2013). Moreover, it is also reinforced by Woolf (2013) who argues that although the NDIS has been sold as an historic advance towards ‘individualised support’ through the provision of ‘choice and control ‘ for Australians living in disability, it not considered a effective scheme for everyone. The care is only provided to limited people with significant or profound disability, and thu only 410,000 peoplle out of 4 million people with diability with be served. Kerry, a mother living with children with disability expresses the anxiety of not receiving enough because the children are not ‘disabled enough’ (Woolf, 2013). Furthermore, Additionally, Laura criticises the belief that NDIS will help to normalise life, which she states is also equally hindered by the “planners” who are supposed to work closely with the clients in order to identify the supports that is required to make progress towards the person’s goals. Although it sounds non-intruding, the players are to ensure that the choices the participants makes are reasonable and necessary, hence depicting bureaucratic aspect of the scheme (Woolf,

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