AUSTRALIA’S disability arts sector fears looming changes to NDIS funding could leave people with disability increasingly isolated and force some to walk away from programs that have become an important part of their lives.
Arts organisations across the country have raised concerns about changes affecting social, civic and community participation funding, warning participants may be forced to prioritise daily living supports over creative programs, classes and other activities that provide social connection.
Concerns have also been raised by disability arts organisations across Australia following a recent meeting chaired by Arts and Disability Network Australia.
The organisations fear reduced funding could have consequences extending well beyond participation in the arts, particularly for people who rely on regular programs for friendships, routine and connection with their community.
There are also concerns participants may struggle to understand why their funding has changed, potentially undermining trust built between people with disability, their families and service providers over many years.
However, a spokesperson for NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the changes were designed to ensure the scheme remained sustainable while continuing to support Australians with permanent and significant disability.
The Federal Government is also establishing a $200 million inclusive communities fund to support community organisations delivering group activities and improving inclusion.
The Minister’s office said critical supports would not be affected and participants would continue to have choice over how they used their funding.
“This can include NDIS supports to access community and recreational activities, such as creative arts programs,” the spokesperson said.
But disability arts organisations remain worried about what the changes will mean on the ground.
At Hands On Studio in the ACT, director Tilly Davey said participants were already expressing confusion and concern about what changes to their plans could mean.
“Lots of people think they’ve done something wrong, and they’re going to have nothing left in their NDIS plan to support them,” she said.
Some participants have attended Hands On programs for as long as 30 years, leaving families questioning how classes could be funded if NDIS support was reduced.
“Some parents are in their eighties or nineties and they think, ‘what are my children going to do? I can’t continue, I can’t support them on a daily basis’,” Ms Davey said.
Transport is another concern.
The concerns leave disability arts organisations calling for greater certainty about how the changes will operate and whether people with disability will continue to have meaningful access to creative and community activities.
