Media

The Age - Henrietta Cook

Xavier Edwards has been stuck in hospital for 12 months and just wants to go home.

But while the quadriplegic teenager is ready to leave, a bureaucratic nightmare means there is no end in sight to his lengthy stay.

The Australian - Sara Ison

The government’s plan to clear hospital beds by getting National Disability Insurance Scheme participants discharged sooner is saving the states “literally millions of dollars every day”, and a “frank” conversation is needed over how they can do more to support young disabled Australians, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says.

The Australian - Sara Ison

Independent MP Monique Ryan said she would introduce a bill to parliament next year to ­address the issues should the government fail to come up with its own legislation. This would include enforceable timeframes and the provision of 40 hours of specialist assistance to NDIS participants moving into their chosen homes.

The Australian - Sarah Ison

Labor has slashed the number of Australians on the NDIS waiting on the outcomes of cases challenging funding decisions by almost half, with 2000 people having their cases to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal resolved in the past five months.

The Australian - Sarah Ison

More than 3000 properties for Australians with disabilities are sitting empty while NDIS participants languish in hospitals, group homes or aged care centres awaiting tick-offs from the agency.

Excessive red tape, protracted planning decisions by the National Disability Insurance Agency and simple errors have led to participants waiting an average 125 days for decisions on Specialist Disability Accommodation.

The Canberra Times – Dan Jervis-Bardy

A new plan to stop NDIS participants languishing for months in hospital has been welcomed by the ACT government, as figures show more than a dozen beds in Canberra are being taken up by patients who are fit to leave.

Federal NDIS Minister Bill Shorten this week outlined a new approach to speed up discharge rates for participants stuck in public hospitals across Australia, which include new time targets and entrusting agency staff to make faster decisions.

Department of Social Services - Media Release

A new approach will see National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants discharged from hospital more quickly, Minister for the NDIS, the Hon. Bill Shorten said today.

Minister Shorten said the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is implementing an operational plan to reduce the time taken for participants to be discharged from hospital.

ABC 7:30 Report - Lauren Day and Laura Kewley

We've all heard about the shortage of hospital beds across the country but in fact, there are hundreds that could be available if they weren't being used by patients who are technically well enough to go home but can't.

Around 1,500 Australians with disabilities are waiting to be discharged from hospital but they can’t because of NDIS delays. Lauren Day and Laura Kewley have the story.

Pro Bono Report - Di Winkler

A focus on short-term budget wins will cost the NDIS billions in longer term support costs, while keeping people with disability living in unsuitable housing. New research shows getting NDIS participants into appropriate housing can improve their health and well-being, while potentially reducing the overall cost of the NDIS.

The Conversation - Di Winkler

Eighteen months ago, a Melbourne woman named Leila had a stroke and went to a local hospital. After medical support over a few weeks, Leila was ready to be discharged from the hospital, but required some specialist support due to her disability.

Three weeks ago Leila finally left hospital care. After nearly 18 months in limbo, left lying in a hospital bed, Leila can finally get on with her life.

Herald Sun - Jade Gailberger

Taxpayers are paying tens of millions of dollars for healthy patients who are stranded in Victorian public hospital beds due to a bureaucratic mess. Almost 300 public hospital beds in Victoria are occupied by patients who are medically fit to leave, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

SBS News

National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister Bill Shorten says the new agreement aims to address the delays in NDIS service provision for 1,100 hospital patients.

The Age - Jewel Topsfield

The state government has revealed that more than 200 Victorians with a disability were stuck in hospital for an average of 160 days after they were well enough to be discharged, and blamed the hold-up on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The Guardian - Luke Henriques-Gomes

Government data shows 1,140 participants are stuck in hospital waiting for housing funding or other support before they can be released. National disability insurance scheme participants are spending months longer than needed in hospital as they await funding packages from the agency that runs the scheme, a new report shows.

ABC News features the campaign

More than 1,000 NDIS participants are estimated to be stuck in hospitals waiting for plans to be approved or for disputes to be resolved, as thousands of specialist houses sit vacant.

'It takes its toll, and people just end up giving up', explains the Summer Foundation's Tim Naughtin.

ABC News - Elizabeth Wright and Alison Branley

Ms Appleby wants to live in her own home but is in a dispute with the NDIS over her plan. More than 1,000 NDIS participants are estimated to be stuck in hospitals waiting for plans to be approved or for disputes to be resolved. Advocacy groups also say there are thousands of specialist houses sitting vacant.

Pro Bono Australia - Di Winkler and Peter Mulherin

Warehousing people with disability under 65 in nursing homes that are not resourced to meet their needs is a waste of human potential. Is the government on track with its commitment to it’s own target of no younger people entering RAC by 2022?

ABC News Radio AM - Elizabeth Wright

Disability advocates say hundreds of purpose built homes for people with disability are sitting empty because of NDIS bureaucratic logjams.

Aged Care News - Bianca Roberts

Progress has been made on the push to end the phenomenon of younger persons living in residential aged care facilities. It’s a step in the right direction, but according to Di Winkler, CEO of the Summer Foundation, more must be done to reduce waiting times for disability-friendly accommodation and to aid YPIRAC exits to be accelerated.

The Conversation - Jacinta Douglas & Di Winkler

New research published by La Trobe University and Summer Foundation today has found that well-designed homes that foster independent living and community connection could reduce support costs, and the need for younger people to live in aged care.

The Age - Jewel Topsfield

A new report, Housing Delayed and Denied, by Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Housing Hub says that people are waiting months for a decision on funding for specialist disability accommodation

Reasonable and Necessary podcast with Dr George Taleporos

In this episode of Reasonable & Necessary, Dr George Taleporos meets NDIS participant Leila Bowheen who has been stuck in hospital for almost a year, waiting for housing and support. He also talks to Adam Horsburgh, CEO at the Austin Hospital for his take on the problem and how it can be solved.

The Canberra Times – Dan Jervis-Bardy

Labor's Bill Shorten has described the case of a Canberra NDIS participant stuck in hospital for more than six months as a scandal and an "abuse", as he vowed to fix the problem if Anthony Albanese wins the election.

The Canberra Times – Dan Jervis-Bardy

The Morrison government is under pressure to end the bureaucratic delays being blamed for confining NDIS participants to hospital beds or forcing them into aged care homes.

Disability Support Guide – Anna Christian

Thousands of people with disability are waiting far too long for approval for the housing they need, causing stress and impacting their health. The Down to 10 Days campaign aims to have the wait of up to 18 months for housing approval cut to ten days…

The Australian – Stephen Lunn

People who need specialist disability housing through the National Disability Insurance Scheme are waiting an average five months for approval, with some applications taking up to 18 months