RECENTLY, Balmoral resident Kathryn Mutch dropped in at The Spectator to deliver a message in relation to her situation and how the way the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) facilitates suitable accommodation can be improved.

My name is Kathryn Mutch and I live with cerebral palsy and hope to inspire people with disabilities to follow their dreams and their goals.

I have achieved a lot of things like having a romantic relationship with my partner (Lachlan Campbell) and we are engaged.

We are looking for a place to live together but it is really challenging, but challenges make us stronger.

I was an advocate for people with disabilities at women’s health in Horsham and Ballarat and I believe that everyone deserves to achieve their dreams and their goals, no matter their situation.

In my opinion the NDIS needs to improve housing options for people that have disabilities, as group housing isn’t for everybody.

I am an artist, I have artwork for sale and am planning on starting my own business.

In life there are challenges that you have to face but don’t give up.

Her visit was timely as Sunday, December 3 was International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and the Federal Government also publicly released the long-awaited NDIS review last week.

The annual theme of IDPwD provides an overarching focus on how society can strive for inclusivity through the removal of physical, technological and attitudinal barriers for people with disability.

4.4 million Australians live with a disability and Australia has been supporting IDPwD since 1996.

One in three people with a disability have a severe or profound disability, and one in 10 people with a disability have experienced discrimination.

The review was delivered on Thursday last week by NDIS minister, Bill Shorten, at the National Press Club in Canberra and has been claimed through a preliminary statement to be “informed by a year of deep engagement with people with disability and their families, representative organisations, participants, workers, providers, governments and more”.

“We have spoken to or heard from about 8000 people,” the statement said.

“This includes almost 4000 submissions. We have held both in person and online meetings, roundtables and feedback sessions. Together we have spent thousands of hours listening to your experience of the NDIS and the ways you want it to change.”

In delivering the review, Mr Shorten said he understood why many could feel anxious but affirmed “Australia is never going back to the bad old days”.

“But we most certainly need to find a way forward together,” he said.

“The states and the Commonwealth, including the Federal Opposition, we all have a common interest and a shared responsibility to secure a lasting and constructive outcome for our citizens. We need each other.”

Mr Shorten called the review a “reboot” and said it “recommends actions needed to be taken over the next few years to help get our NDIS back on track and deliver better outcomes, not just for Australians with disability, but for all of us.”

The 338-page report covers a wide range of topics including strategising a “unified system of support”, yet empowering people with a disability through tailoring individual solutions.

Housing and accommodation were discussed over 16 pages with a recommendation to “deliver a diverse and innovative range of inclusive housing and living supports”, acknowledging in part they “should not ‘lock’ people into shared living arrangements”.

Southern Stay chief executive, Paul Lougheed, said the review was substantial and would take some time to go through to figure out how the changes would affect stakeholders, especially in rural areas.

“After 12 months and consultation with over 10,000 people the NDIS Review was handed down,” he said.

“The report has 26 recommendations and 139 actions which, if approved by government, will be phased in over the next five years. Nothing will be changing right away! The Review Panel highlighted that ‘you can’t fix the NDIS without fixing everything around it’.”

He was still able to identify some key focal points.

“We can expect an increased focus on accessible and inclusive mainstream services and what is called ‘foundational supports’,” he said.

“The government’s full response to the review will be released next year. Once the details are better known we will send out a summary and discuss further with staff.”

In response to the review, Kathryn was clear on what she would like to see.

“I’ve been working on housing for everybody with different disabilities for a long time and everyone’s situation is different and the NDIS needs to change that,” she said.

More information on the NDIS review can be found at bit.ly/4a7JxCf