Submission to Senate Inquiry into NDIS Participant Service Guarantee Bill

Mental Health Australia has provided a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee considering the NDIS Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021. Mental Health Australia welcomed particular changes to this legislation which the sector had called for in the previous consultation undertaken by the Department of Social Services.

Overall, the Bill represents an improvement to the current legislation in regards to psychosocial disability and would implement recommendations made by the mental health sector and past inquiries. However, the Bill and associated rules would introduce new terms regarding psychosocial disability which are not yet clearly defined. Further work is required to ensure appropriate and consistent interpretation and prevent unintended consequences. As such, Mental Health Australia has urged the Australian Government to engage in a process with the mental health sector to establish agreed guidelines for interpretation and implementation of the legislation.