National Disability Services (NDS), the peak body for disability service providers, submitted a response to the Victorian Government's consultation paper regarding the proposed Disability Workforce Registration and Accreditation Scheme.

According to the NDS website, NDS' submission emphasised commitment to safeguarding abuse against people with disability and provision of high-quality service. However, they have also expressed a number of concerns regarding the scheme.

NDS's preference is for Victoria to not legislate for a state-based scheme. NDS instead supports a national worker screening system covering both NDIS-registered and non-registered workers, and acknowledges the contributions the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework is intended to make in this regard.

NDS outlined the following primary concerns in their submission:

• The scheme risks duplicating the national framework and the potential for multiple state-based schemes.
• The scheme risks acting as a barrier to workforce supply at a time when the workforce needs to grow significantly to meet demand.
• The scheme may result in a competitive disadvantage for Victorian providers.
• NDS is not aware of any evidence that particular qualifications result in the reduction of abuse of people with disabilities or in the provision of high-quality service.
• Funds which would have to be used to establish the local scheme would be better applied to Victorian advocacy and 'zero tolerance' initiatives.
• NDIS pricing does not allow for the training or recognition of registered workers.
• The scheme restricts choice and control by limiting the range of workers who may be engaged.
• Any scheme should be primarily voluntary, other than in limited circumstances.
• A scheme which is wide in scope would risk excluding people with disability from mainstream services to the extent these services’ workers would also be required to be registered and accredited in order to provide services to people with disability.

NDS submits that strategies addressing organisational culture and processes - as well as empowerment of people - within a human rights approach backed by strong advocacy, are more effective at tackling abuse and improving service quality.

NDS encourages organisations to familiarise themselves with NDS's Zero Tolerance framework and to utilise the wide and growing range of resources available. 

To read the original article and access NDS' submission, go to the NDS website.