NDIS a drain on labour and a challenge to Consumer Directed Care in villages and care facilities – plus to private home care operators

Last Friday I was a speaker at the 135 delegate UPA (United Protestant Association) conference in Albury. We discussed the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, given that the minimum hourly pay rate is just over $35 – and how is this going to compare to $16 for a Certificate 111 employee on $16 per hour? Well respected Newcastle franchisee of Just Better Care, Bob Calvin, came up afterwards and explained that he has to pay $24 per hour for his staff, leaving $11 to cover his costs and margin – which he explains his understandably tough. Just the same, he is paying $24 versus $16 which will be attractive to carers. The staff required to deliver the National Disability Insurance Scheme is estimated at 23,000 in New South Wales alone, undermining the pool for aged care delivery.

Compounding this is the announcement this week by the NSW government that it will transfer all disability services to the private sector in 2014 – it currently provides 40% of disability services for the state. Something will have to give.