Making the most of a captive audience: Do specialist teams in custodial settings offer a way to assist people to access the NDIS?

Abstract

AbstractWhile the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been operating in Australia for 10 years, numerous eligible people with disability have not accessed the scheme, many of whom are in prison. The South Australian Government, in partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), implemented a pilot programme to assist people in prison to access the NDIS as having NDIS supports on release may reduce the risk of returning to custody. This qualitative study, drawing on interviews with 20 stakeholders, explores the enablers and barriers of assisting people with disability in prison access the NDIS. Our findings show that while custodial settings provide opportunities to assist people with disability to have their eligibility for the NDIS assessed, prisons are difficult settings in which to undertake subsequent assessment and planning processes to determine the supports available on release. People with disability exiting prison also face significant challenges accessing suitable accommodation and support services, particularly when their needs are complex. Further work is required to ensure planning and assessment processes meet the needs of this group. The findings provide useful insights to both justice and other institutional settings and respond to many of the questions raised by recent public inquiries and reviews.