On 10 June 2011, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Linda Reynolds launched a national plan to grow the capability and size of the NDIS workforce.
The plan will be rolled out from 2021 to 2025 to underpin workforce growth in the NDIS and support complementary workforce measures taking place in the areas of aged care and veterans support.
“An additional 83,000 workers will be required to support around 530,000 NDIS participants in the next four years, bringing the total workforce to 353,000,” Minister Reynolds said.
The Workforce Plan notes that today, “450,000 participants receive support from over 11,600 active NDIS providers employing around 270,000 workers across 20 occupations”.
It is estimated, by “2024, around 500,000 participants will require support from almost 353,000 workers” and the workforce will need to grow rapidly to meet these demands.
The current breakdown of the NDIS workforce by occupation is as below:
Sixteen initiatives will be implemented by the Australian Government, grouped into 3 key priority areas:
Priority 1: Improve community understanding of the benefits of working in the care and support sector and strengthen entry pathways for suitable workers to enter the sector
- Promote opportunities in the care and support sector.
- Develop a simple and accessible online tool for job seekers to self-assess their suitability for new roles based on values, attributes, skills and experience.
- Improve effectiveness of jobs boards to match job seekers to vacancies in the sector.
- Leverage employment programs to ensure suitable job seekers can find work in the sector.
- Better connect NDIS and care and support providers to employment and training providers and workers.
Priority 2: Train and support the NDIS workforce
- Develop micro-credentials and update nationally recognised training.
- Support the sector to develop a Care and Support Worker Professional Network.
- Work with the sector to establish a skills passport.
- Support the sector to grow the number of traineeships and student placements, working closely with education institutions and professional bodies
Priority 3: Reduce red tape, facilitate new service models and innovation, and provide more market information about business opportunities in the care and support sector
- Improve alignment of provider regulation and worker screening across the care and support sector (improvements have already taken place here with the announcement that NDIS Worker Screening will now also be accepted for Aged Care Providers. See our update here).
- Continue to improve NDIS pricing approaches to ensure effective operation of the market, including in thin markets.
- Provide market demand information across the care and support sector to help identify new business opportunities.
- Support participants to find more of the services and supports they need online.
- Explore options to support allied health professionals to work alongside allied health assistants and support workers to increase capacity to respond to participants’ needs.
- Enable allied health professionals in rural and remote areas to access professional support via telehealth.
- Help build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector to enhance culturally safe NDIS services
The Workforce Plan hopes to achieve the following benefits through implementation of these initiatives:
Benefits for Participants:
- Improved participant outcomes
- Increased capacity to meet demand, including in thin markets
- Greater choice and control, and diversity of services
- Continuity of services
Benefits for Workers:
- Decrease in workforce churn
- Increase in average work hours due to reduced red tape
- Substantial growth in workforce size across the NDIS and broader care and support sector
- Higher adoption and completion of training
Benefits for Providers:
- Increase in adoption of innovative service models
- Greater visibility of opportunities in the market
- Reduced red tape
Economic Benefits:
- Job creation
- Increase in number of business opportunities
SoCom Consulting advises on new NDIS and Aged Care Provider applications, policies and procedures, compliance and strategic business development. To discuss how we can assist you, Contact Us.
