Dear Mr Buckley

Thank you for your email to Mr Whitecross on 3/12/2024, regarding children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and qualification as an National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant and eligibility for Carer Allowance (CA). I am responding on behalf of Mr Whitecross who is currently on leave. Please note, we have consulted with the relevant area of the department and trust the information provided below better addresses your concerns.    

Comparison between children with ASD who receive NDIS funding and those who qualify a carer for CA (child). 

In June 2024 there were 134,905 care receivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who qualified a carer for CA (child). 

The June 2024 NDIS data of NDIS child participants with ASD (NDIS June Disability Dashboard Data Cube – 30 June 2024) breaks down the data by the following age groups: 

Of the 15-18 year old NDIS category only 15 year olds would qualify for CA (child), as CA (child) eligibility applies only to children under 16 years of age.  Based on this we have included a quarter of the 15-18 year old NDIS population, which would be approximately 10,800 participants.

This means there are around 148,500 NDIS child participants with ASD who may be eligible to qualify a carer for CA (child). When we equate this to the 134,905 CA (child) care receivers with ASD the numbers are reasonably comparable. 

There are other reasons outside of the child having an ASD diagnosis that may prevent a carer qualifying for CA (child), including; 

• the child’s parental (partnered) income may be over $250,000 pa;
• not all carers choose to apply for CA. For some, this could be due to the requirement to complete and submit the claim forms and other necessary documentation, including the medical report completed by the treating health professional (this can be the child’s GP). Anecdotal evidence suggest some carers prefer not to undertake this process;
• residency and visa requirements; and 
• the child must be the dependent child of the carer applying for CA (unless they also apply for and are granted Carer Payment in which case they receive CA (child) automatically (if no other carer receives CA for that child).

While the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) has been built and is progressing, applications to data have not yet opened but will be open in mid-December 2024. More information is available on the Apply for data access | NDDA page of the NDDA website. This page will be progressively updated as more information is available.

Kind regards

Rachel 

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DRO Forum Secretariat

Systemic Advocacy and International Engagement 

Advocacy and Inclusion Programs Branch 

Department of Social Services 
E: systemicdisabilityadvocacy@dss.gov.au

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past and present.

From: Bob Buckley <convenor@a4.org.au> 
Sent: Tuesday, 3 December 2024 8:53 AM
To: WHITECROSS, Andrew <Andrew.WHITECROSS@dss.gov.au>
Cc: Systemic Disability Advocacy <SystemicDisabilityAdvocacy@dss.gov.au>; LOGAN, Rachel <Rachel.LOGAN@dss.gov.au>; FRANSEN, Miriam <Miriam.FRANSEN@dss.gov.au>; Amanda Rishworth (APH) <Amanda.Rishworth.MP@APH.gov.au>
Subject: DRO Forum Action Item 20240816-08 - does not answer the question - lack confidence in Foundational Supports

Dear Ms Whitecross

I received the response (attached) that your Department provided about Carer Allowance (child). My original question (not in your response) referred to old data about autistic children on Carer Allowance (child) and NDIS data from the same time. The background I gave was that there were fewer children receiving Carer Allowance (child) for their autism than the number of NDIS participants with autism noted in their record of disability. It asked why there were fewer autistic children getting Carer Allowance (child) than the number of autistic NDIS participants in the same age range. 

The response does not answer my original question.

The problem may be that the record of the DSS Forum where I asked the question simply did not adequately recognise/note my original question. 

To me, the Department's response feels patronising. I would not have asked the question had I not been aware of the information about Carer Allowance (child) provided in the response. Perhaps that information would be appropriate had the response contained an answer aimed at a more general audience who might have needed it to understand the context. But without an answer to the question asked, the explanatory material feels patronising because it implies the questioner did not know what they were asking about.

Perhaps the Department feels that it needed to provide material describing/explaining Carer Allowance (child) because they judge information on the Department's website about Carer Allowance (child) is unclear, that it would not help. If the website does not explain the allowance adequately then the quality and accessibility of information on the website about Care Allowance (child) needs review. Is that now being considered?

The more general and current question about Carer Allowance (child) and children with all types of disability in the current context must be considered.  The National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) should be able now to answer this question using data from DSS and the NDIS, data that it should have been able to access. Questions arising are:

• do most children who are eligible for Carer Allowance (child) access the support? If not, why not and what is being done?
• can the NDDA answer the more general question? if not, why not?

As I understand it, Carer Allowance (child) is the very epitome of a Foundational Support in the disability sector. The observation that prompted my question, that many eligible children's families are not accessing this support, suggests there is an issue with a basic and existing Foundational Support that is very "close to home" for the Department. 

This is an example of how DSS handles an existing Foundational Supports that is essentially within its control. With this example, the disability sector cannot be optimistic about the Department's effort to develop and promote further Foundational Support for people with disability. 

Bob Buckley
Co-convenor, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4)
website: http://a4.org.au/

A4, a recognised disability representative organisation (DRO), advocates for autistic people, their families, carers and associates. A4 is internet based so that Australians anywhere can participate in and contribute to A4's advocacy for autistic people, their carers and allies.

A4 recognises the Traditional Owners of lands in Australia; we respect their elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Recipients of correspondence from A4, especially politicians and government officials, are all subject to A4's policy on unanswered questions: see http://a4.org.au/node/1419.

The autism issue is that autistic people just don't deliver on the plans, dreams and expectations in other peoples' heads.

On 28/11/2024 3:47 pm, FRANSEN, Miriam wrote:

Hi Bob

Here is the response.  The earlier response was sent Tuesday 1 October, 2024 at 4.06pm.

Warm regards

Miriam

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Miriam Fransen

Assistant Director

Advocacy and Inclusion Programs Branch

Department of Social Services 
E: miriam.fransen@dss.gov.auP: (02) 5162 6575 
National Relay Service

The Department of Social Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, water, culture and community. We pay our respects to the Elders both past and present.