Submission to Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS – Inquiry into NDIS Workforce

Mental Health Australia developed a joint submission with Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia and Community Mental Health Australia to this inquiry into NDIS workforce. Our submission outlined the unique role of the psychosocial disability workforce, providing recovery-oriented engagement and capability building.  This specialised workforce has been depleted in transition to the NDIS, where funding constraints have restricted the ability of providers to employ skilled professionals with appropriate employment conditions. This submission discussed the barriers and opportunities for developing the necessary psychosocial workforce into the future, and emphasised the lived experience workforce, ensuring a culturally responsive workforce and meeting the needs of people living in rural and remote areas. 

The submission includes seven specific recommendations for the Australian Government, calling for investment to develop a psychosocial workforce with appropriate capacity to support (over time) the capability and independence of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability.

Read the response here