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City of Canning considering move to not register as disability service provider ahead of NDIS rollout

Ben SmithCanning Gazette

THE City of Canning will consider a move to opt out as a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider on Tuesday night, ahead of the WA rollout of the initiative.

If it does opt out, the council would no longer be able to provide the current accommodation support and 13 clients would have to find new service providers.

However to continue as a service provider under the NDIS from July 1, it would have to change to a per-unit charging model rather than receiving block payments that continue even when there are vacancies.

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The council estimate such a move could also cost them about $120,000 in annual funding.

Councillors discussed the positives and negatives of registering as an NDIS provider at Tuesday’s agenda briefing session, where Christine Cunningham, Lindsay Hall and Graham Barry were among those keen to receive the utmost assurance the affected residents would not be worse off if the council did decide to opt out – which is the recommendation from city staff.

Currently, the City provides services to 13 people living with disability and 16 support staff, despite not being a specialist service provider.

The City are currently engaged in consultation with those affected about the report and recommendations that will be presented to the council on February 19.

Canning’s service is primarily based around accommodation support for those living with a low-level intellectual disability.

The accommodation consists of a complex containing six individual accommodation units and five share houses in the community containing between two and four bedrooms in each.

If the council decides not to register as an NDIS provider, the report provided reassurance that current clients would continue to be supported until they found alternative providers. The support would also help clients identify which service would be the most suitable fit.

The City would also work with the Department of Communities to transition the management of the supported accommodation units to ensure the people could continue residing in their current homes.