Public hearing 15: People with cognitive disability and the criminal justice system: NDIS interface

This public hearing explored issues relating to people with cognitive disability and the criminal justice system and the interface with the NDIS.

In the opening of Public hearing 11, Counsel Assisting’s stated that 'some of the evidence in this hearing speaks of people’s experiences in trying to access services from States or through the NDIS, and the sense by some of responsibility being shuffled between the two. We note that there will be a second part of this hearing, at a later time, which will enable the States and the NDIA to be heard on these issues.'

The scope and purpose of Public hearing 15 was to finalise Public hearing 11, and primarily to provide an opportunity for government parties to respond to the issues that were raised with respect to the NDIS in Public hearing 11. As such, the areas of focus for this short public hearing were:

• the approach of, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments in respect of the division of responsibility for providing supports and services to people with cognitive disability involved in the criminal justice system

• barriers to people with cognitive disability involved in the criminal justice system in accessing the NDIS, including with respect to transition from custodial environments

• NDIS guidelines and policies as they relate to people with cognitive disability and the criminal justice system.