Submission to the Consultation on Foundational Supports

The NDIS Review recommended National Cabinet fund an expanded set of foundational disability supports outside the NDIS. National Cabinet agreed to jointly design and commission these Foundational Supports. The Department of Social Services has just finished a consultation on General Foundational Supports, which it describes as including information and guidance, peer supports and capacity building supports alongside supports for children under 9. Mental Health Australia made a submission to this consultation. Mental Health Australia’s submission welcomes the NDIS review’s recommendation that General Foundational Supports for people with psychosocial disability include peer support programs, recovery colleges, family psychosocial education and digital psychosocial supports. The submission also recommends other support types outlined in Mental Health Australia and the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum’s Advice to Governments on Evidence Informed and Good Practice Psychosocial Services be considered for funding through Foundational Supports. Finally, the submission outlines key factors to be considered to ensure quality and safety of services funded through Foundational Supports and critical success factors for their implementation.