I have referred your feedback to management for consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Lynch
Executive Officer Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Principal Registry
Dear Ms Lynch
Thank you for your interest. However, I am concerned that ongoing reviews of decisions relating to young children who need early intervention are delayed indefinitely in the AAT process.
Mr Robert De Luca
CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency
Dear Mr De Luca
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, is the national grass-roots advocacy group representing autistic people and others living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A4 and others in the ASD community have tried to engage with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from the outset. But there has been very little progress.
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, known as A4, recently received a very inadequate response (MC17-001434) to our emails to you dated 5/11/2017 and 11/12/2017. Our emails to you expressed extensive concerns about the NDIS and specifically its approach to early intervention for autistic children.
Ms Christine Faulkner, General Manager of the NDIS, says: “The Assistant Minister has asked me to reply to you on her behalf”.
The result must be so disheartening for you. Ms Faulkner’s response to us, on your behalf, is so disappointing for a collection of reasons.
There are supports that are unable to be provided under the NDIS, as they are the responsibility of other service systems. These systems and their responsibilities are outlined in the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Principles to Determine the Responsibility of the NDIS and other Service Systems. These principles were agreed to by respective jurisdictions and the Commonwealth. More information about the COAG principles that govern the NDIS can be found at: www.coag.gov.au.
MC17-001434