Concerns over NDIS funding for music and art therapy

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten claims music and art therapy may be removed from the NDIS if evidence cannot be provided it is “maintaining or improving the functional capacity” of a participant

“We’ve [Labor], for the first time in the history of the scheme, started to clarify what you can and can’t spend money on,” Mr Shorten told Sky News Australia.

“One of the issues which we’ve said we want to address is art and music therapy.

“At the moment, an art and music therapist can charge $193 an hour for providing a service, and we’ve said that we want to review that.

“We are happy to continue provided we can see evidence that it’s maintaining or improving the functional capacity of a participant.”

[jamilalexandros]

so many people rely on art and music therapy to improve their ability to function in society. sad that so many people in the comments (and Shorten himself) don't think we should provide opportunities for those who have disabilities based on the persons preferred form of engagement. there is plenty of hard evidence that MT helps with social, mobility and learning outcomes.

[Roseyday]

Art therapy is extremely important for people with mental health issues, social isolation and autism just as a few examples

[ronan]

Yet I was denied NDIS for a degenerative disease, 8 years later, my muscles have wasted away, and I can barely walk.

NDIS is a national disgrace

[georgiareneemusic]

"CLASS" omg music and art is a THERAPY support. Not a CLASS! Just shows how little he knows about these professions.

[blacklilkitten]

STOP CALLING THEM These are Master Qualified Therapy Practices That ACTIVELY use art and music as tools/interventions to work towards a client's goals. We're not just singing a song and calling it a day. It just shows the absolute lack of respect and understanding Bill has towards these professions.

[Roseyday]

Business won’t be able to afford to charge $68 an hour and simply will stop offering this as an option to NDIS participants as a result. It’s ridiculous to expect this will work

[katefielding]

The NDIA was developed for participant choice. Now they are disparaging the 2 professions and reducing choice! Knee jerk reaction to address your bottom lines! Not well thought out. Not enough notice to professionals let alone clients.

[PaulieJames-ih]

How else do migrants, get money, just look at all the new cars

[Vazz-zby]

This ‘need for evidence’ doesn’t affect the provider who charges the higher rates, it affects the participants … who now have to again prove their disability and what works for them, prove they need the services and why, and pay for more reports! Which no one in the NDIS ever reads anyway! It’s more stress, more struggle, more time and more money all on the participant … so then one really has to weigh up if all that struggle is even worth the effort, or do they just give up and go without.. which is essentially the governments plan anyway isn’t is?!

[jeremys.travels]

You wonder how much money was wasted on NDIS holidays? Cruises? Someone made a lot of money out this

[garageblitztv]

Wow, $196 per hour, gee I would love that … however that’s still almost $100 less per hour then what Mr Shorten will be earning at his Golden parachute new job … $1, 100, 000 per year University Dean.

When Mr Shorten said “isn’t $65 dollars an hour enough” that same logic could be applied to him.

[DanielStone-ywrn]

Why the shock at $200/ hr, id say thats totally reasonable, cheaper than a politician or a lawyer, obviously no understanding about these problems after all this time, id say music and art therapy is probably more important than seeing the doctor, hands down

[vivrowe]

This guy has made a fortune from this scam.

[speedymccreedy]

A taxpayer funded disaster that this was even in the NDIS to begin with.

[Daniel]

They need to SCRAP NDIS altogether, a total waste of money.
The modern fiscal policies of the Australian Government remind me of the movie comedy, "brewster's millions"
just spending as much as you can on worthless projects and having nothing to show for it in the end.

[lauran]

Check ALL the Allied health "professionals", pretty sure speech therapy for a non verbal adult, is a bigger waste of resources

[stevewiles]

Knew a couple that had everything done for them, everything, they were quite capable of doing the vast majority of it themselves.

[DanielStone-ywrn]

It's a form of councilling also cheaper than any counselling

[bemusedone]

Know a bloke had a holiday to WA 6weeks for xmas, smokes a grade hydro all day foodcooked and lawn mowed and many won't believe me but he told them he can't bend over enough to cut his toenails so he gets driven into town to get'em cut, and it's all free😅and he's got 2houses and a another acre plot.

[svb]

This is in direct contradiction to the recent NDIS announcement that the allied health service of music therapy is no longer an option after Feb 1st, instead only community music is. These are very different things.