NDIS: Don’t make decisions about us without us, says Dylan Alcott

Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott wants to see participants put first in NDIS decision-making, as he outlined in a report into the scheme handed down today.

Mr Alcott argued that the scheme fails to listen to the lived experience of participants and often neglects to include them in decision-making.

The report, titled NDIS 2.0, listed 10 recommendations for the government to implement – including changing the narrative from costs to benefits.

This is a sentiment Government Services Minister Bill Shorten agrees with.

Mr Shorten told Sky News Australia the NDIS had to be viewed “as an investment”.

“We’ve got to stop talking about the NDIS being a cost,” he said.

“Yes, we don’t want to waste money, yes, we don’t want rent seekers getting between the taxpayer and a person with a disability.

“But on the other hand, we’ve got to view it as an investment.”