Media Release

17 January 2018: KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has submitted a question to the Minister of Social Services requesting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) review its support hour funding for children aged 0 to 6.

Currently to access NDIS funding guardians must provide evidence of how much the child’s condition impacts their life, including ‘any impact on their mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care and self-management’ - according to the NDIS website.

However, NDIS allocates no support hour funding to children under 7 as it’s considered they still require regular fulltime guardian care. This has left some families struggling to care for their child with a disability in cases where their 5 or 6-year-old cannot dress or feed themselves, is incontinent and immobile – all things a typical 6-year-old is capable of doing.

My Katter said better assessment needs to be in place to address the issue, “My electorate offices are assisting a number of constituents with issues relating to the NDIS, and one thing that really stands out is some young families are struggling to care for children with a disability,” Mr Katter said.

“Horrifying to think, some are so under-resourced they are even considering giving up their child with a disability so he/she gets more adequate resources and care.

“We are currently assisting one family whose 6-year-old child has significant and complex disability support needs. The child has hearing impairment, vision impairment, physical impairment and uses a wheelchair to mobilise. The child has been assessed with a developmental age equal to a typically developing 18-month-old child.

“So while their mum is taking care of the family, working part time to pay for extra therapies, sourcing and engaging disability services and managing her child’s NDIS package - her grade 2 child is picking up the shortfall in care that the NDIS has left.

“This is what they as a family are doing, not to thrive, but just to survive each day.

“Our question to the Minister for Social Services is to consider a sliding scale of needs for children from birth to 6, rather than the current one-size fits all approach.

“Typical 5 and 6-year-olds can dress and feed themselves and can hold their own head above water in a bath – so we’re asking the Minister why are children of this age with a disability grouped in with the high-care needs of a typical new-born?”

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