Report 25: 2019-20

WA’s Transition to the NDIS

Audit focus and scope

The audit assessed whether the Department of Communities, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Department of Treasury (State government entities) are effectively preparing WA to move onto the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It focused on 2 key criteria during the audit period mid-2018 to December 2019:

  1. Are entities set up and on target to achieve a successful move to the NDIS?
  2. Are entities proactively managing the risks to WA in moving to the NDIS?

In conducting the audit, we:

  • reviewed the December 2017 Bilateral Agreement and the Western Australia operational and transfer plans
  • reviewed minutes of the governance committees including: WA Executive Steering Committee, the Operational Working Group and Communities’ internal executive committee
  • examined records and analysed data including on people seeking to transfer or transition onto the NDIS
  • reviewed complaints and other related information provided to both Communities and Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)
  • interviewed local coordinators responsible for supporting people with disability yet to transfer or transition to the NDIS
  • interviewed other key staff from Communities, DPC and Treasury
  • met with representatives from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

We also visited the Bayswater district office in the metropolitan area and the Kalgoorlie regional office of the Department of Communities.

Other stakeholders we engaged with included:

  • Activ
  • Carers WA
  • Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre
  • Explorability Inc.
  • Goldfields Individual and Family Support Association (GIFSA)
  • HaDSCO
  • Hope Community Services
  • Individual Disability Advocacy Service (Goldfields)
  • Life Without Barriers
  • National Disability Services (NDS)
  • People With Disabilities WA.

We did not look at the merits of the decision by the State government to join the NDIS or the quality of services delivered under the NDIS. The costs and effectiveness of Communities’ ongoing role in delivering and regulating quality and safety of residual services to Western Australians may be the subject of future audits by this Office.

This was a performance audit, conducted under Section 18 of the Auditor General Act 2006, in accordance with Australian Standard on Assurance Engagements ASAE 3500 Performance Engagements. We complied with the independence and other ethical requirements related to assurance engagements. Performance audits focus primarily on the effective management and operations of entity programs and activities. The approximate cost of undertaking the audit and reporting was $667,000.

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