Banned from NDIS funding

About time!

The use of NDIS funding for gambling, holidays, vapes and “cuddle therapy” will be officially banned within days as the Federal Government continues its clean-up of the disability scheme.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has released the final list of which items and supports the scheme’s 660,000 participants can and cannot purchase using their taxpayer-funded budgets.

Thelist becomes law on October 3, although participants will escape punishment for “simple mistakes” during a 12-month grace period.

Cases of taxpayer funds being used on drugs, sex workers, holidays and unproven treatments have dogged the NDIS in recent years, undermining public confidence in the fast-growing scheme.

The list of banned items includes food, rent and bills, gambling, holidays, theme-park tickets, jewellery and makeup.

Participants also won’t be able to purchase a range of treatments that aren’t considered “evidence-based” such as crystal therapy, cuddle therapy, yoga and tarot card reading.

The list also prohibits supports that should be covered under the education and health systems, such as home-schooling and prescription medicine.

The banned list is part of a wider overhaul to contain the scheme’s spiralling costs, which are projected to reach $46.4 billion in 2024-25.

Theagency in charge of the NDIS is currently relying on administrative guidelinesto determine which items can and can’t be funded, creating confusion andconcern about inconsistent decision-making.

Mr Shorten said while creating the list would help cut scheme costs, its main purpose was to ensure the NDIS was returned to its “true purpose” of helping people with severe and permanent disabilities.

“I think every Australian supports the concept (of the NDIS) but what we have seen is the rise of opportunistic, unethical providers … and they’re selling Disallowed,” he said.

“They’re selling stuff which, frankly, doesn’t work and shouldn’t be paid for”.