CHP Seminar: Disability and social inequality – research findings from the NDIS

Title: Disability and social inequality – research findings from the NDIS

Speaker: Dr George Disney

Date/Time: Tuesday 19th September 12:00-1:00 pm

Location: Room 410, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street

Zoom: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/7pys

Password: 713763

Abstract:

The NDIS is the largest social policy reform since Medicare.

It provides people with permanent and significant disability a budget to purchase disability supports and services on the social care market. It has the potential to give disabled people greater choice and control over their daily lives.

However, there are growing concerns that the individualised and self-directed nature of the NDIS could reproduce already existing social inequalities in terms of access and use of the scheme.

In this presentation you will hear about George and his team’s recent work with State and Federal governments. Their work aimed to quantify if there are groups who are more likely to be rejected from full NDIS access, and for those in the scheme whether there are inequalities in service utilisation.

Bio:

George is a social epidemiologist and works in the Disability and Health Unit in the school. His current research focuses on how government could reduce health inequalities for people with disability. To do this he works in partnership with government in the design of his research projects. This ensures he can access the data needed for this kind of research and that the evidence he produces is, where possible, delivered to key decision makers. George also works closely with Melbourne Disability Institute. This collaboration facilitates partnerships with the disability community and government stakeholders.