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Melba is one of 38 Australian disability and allied health organisations that have signed a position statement that strongly opposes any reform to the NDIS that allows the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to exclude services without consultation or following a process based on “reasonable and necessary” supports, particularly as they relate to sexuality supports for people with disability.  

The joint statement asserts the following:

Importance of sexuality and relationship supports:

We oppose any reform that would allow the NDIA to exclude these essential services. The statement highlights the necessity of comprehensive sexuality and relationships supports, which address a wide range of needs including consent education, support for survivors of sexual assault, and assistance for maintaining intimate relationships.

Impact of excluding sexuality supports:

Removing these services would undermine the fundamental rights and well-being of people with disability, potentially increasing risks, and neglect around this crucial aspect of their lives. We argue for the retention and investment in these services to ensure people with disabilities can experience improved quality of life and healthy relationships.

Need for a comprehensive sexuality policy:

We call for the development of a robust sexuality policy that acknowledges the diverse needs of NDIS participants and provides clear, consistent guidelines for accessing supports.

You can read the full statement here.