Rally organised to protest changes after businesses forced to close
By Kirra Livingstone
LOCAL NDIS clients are organising a rally to protest changes that have forced the closure of some small providers and reduced vital therapy options.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) redefined supports earlier this month, removing services deemed ‘not evidence-based.’ These included childcare fees, wilderness therapy, and day-to-day living costs. However, it also means that some clients who relied on alternative therapies no longer have access to these critical services.
These therapies include animal therapy, art classes, and pre-packaged meals. Landsborough father Mark Maitland said his son, Caelan, was one of the NDIS clients disadvantaged by the changes. Caelan, 25, was diagnosed with autism before the age of two and struggles to communicate or care for himself. Under the NDIS changes, Caelan can no longer access one of the therapies crucial to managing his daily life.
Mark declined to specify which therapy. “He will be losing out on a therapy that has proven effective for him, but is now considered not an appropriate use of NDIS funding,” Mark said. “That’s the difference between Caelan being highly anxious and hurting himself, or within five minutes, being okay. “He will eventually lose all the therapies Caelan currently attends, like speech and occupational therapy, as well as social support outings.
“The NDIS is making it very difficult for these providers to continue working, so it’s no longer client-focused. They are essentially working for the NDIS.” Mark cannot afford to fund this therapy privately.
“Without these services, it would be depressing for him. There would be nothing for him to do apart from hanging out with me and doing the few things we do,” Mark explained. “He would lose his day to-day lifestyle, and those services are very expensive. There’s no way I could afford them for him.”
Organizations have also been affected, including hinterland art class provider Freedom Studios, which is fighting to stay open. Owner Naomi Jones said she is currently in the process of reclassifying the business so participants can continue using her services and is awaiting a response from the NDIS.
“Hundreds of clients come in and out of our art classes, so it would be a big loss,” she said. “It has helped them so much with life skills and social skills; it’s an excellent therapy for them “I’ve seen the positive changes in people’s mental health, so taking it away would be devastating.” Freedom client Kerrie Austin, who has a brain injury and requires a wheelchair for mobility, said the art classes have been invaluable for providing social support.
“We have seen clients who don’t often get opportunities to connect socially,” she said. “It’s important for us to go out, not just with our support workers, but to build connections together.” Kerrie is now organising a rally outside the Sunshine Coast’s NDIS head office in Maroochydore on November 7 at 11 am to raise awareness of the harm these changes are causing.
“Maybe the people at the NDIS office in Maroochydore will notice us protesting and get the NDIS minister on the phone so he can hear what’s going on.
Hopefully, they’ll rethink what they’re doing,” she said. The NDIS said participants can contact 1800 800 110, which has a line for enquiries about legislative changes.
