Penelope & Evangeline
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Penelope is in her 30s and is an advocate for people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Each year she speaks at a number of conferences on the rights of people like her with disability. She told the Royal Commission it’s a way to get out into the community, network with other advocates and make new friends and connections.
For a number of years Penelope’s travel and attendance was funded by an aging, disability and home care package.
Everything changed when Penelope transitioned onto the NDIS. Despite providing evidence of her previous travel budget approvals, her funding request was rejected. She was given just a ‘one-off’ payment for a conference registration.
Penelope says the failure of the NDIS to recognise the value of attending forums such as these, prevents people from being able to participate within their own communities.
‘Should they just stay at home and be isolated forever?’ she asked.
The following year, Penelope received her second NDIS plan. Again, her application for conference funding was denied.
This time she took the matter further, seeking an internal review of the decision. The NDIA considered her request, but upheld its original decision. They found that while attending the conference would assist Penelope’s goals, it did not represent value for money. Nor would it increase her ‘independence and reduce the participant’s need for other kinds of supports’.
Penelope sought the assistance of a disability legal advocate and took the case to appeal.
The NDIA proposed an initial agreement which Penelope rejected because she wasn’t happy with it. Finally after many months, and with the help of her solicitor, she settled on the agency’s second offer.
Penelope was awarded funds for registration fee, airfares and accommodation and transport to attend a disability conference.
To ensure she didn’t have to go back through the appeals process, Penelope opted to ‘roll over’ her plan so it could ‘remain the same for the next three years’.
Evangeline is Penelope’s disability advocate. She says the NDIA ‘made the wrong decision about Penelope’s plan in the first place’.
‘This wasted considerable time, money and energy. Penelope could have used that time to receive the appropriate supports and continue to live her life with the plan she was rightfully entitled to receive.’
Penelope recommends the NDIA improve the way consumers have input into their plans. They should be asked more suitable questions as part of the planning process, and plans should be tailored to meet the needs of each individual with disability.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.