The Federal Government has proposed excluding period products from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) under draft changes to the service.
Reproductive services, including surrogacy and IVF, have also been excluded in the draft lists published by the Department of Social Services.
Disability advocates fear the changes could exacerbate disadvantages experienced based on both gender and disability.
NDIS
The NDIS is a government service, established in 2013, which provides support and services for more than 610,000 Australians living with a disability.
NDIS Participants are allocated a personal budget, based on “what is reasonable and necessary” for each person with a disability.
Successive Australian governments have been concerned about the cost of the NDIS. The new reforms are part of its plan to reduce spending on the NDIS by $14.4 billion over the next four years.
Reform
Potential NDIS reforms were announced in March after a review found the scheme had seen a declining quality of care alongside increased costs.
The changes intend to redefine what participants can spend NDIS funding on.
Under a draft revision, menstrual products and reproductive services have been reclassified as “lifestyle-related” expenses, meaning they’re no longer covered by NDIS funding. They’re now in the same category as vapes, gaming consoles, and instruments.
NDIS Minister Shorten
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten’s office told TDA the list is still being finalised as the Government continues to speak to experts and participants about which products should be included under NDIS coverage.
The Government will continue to run community consultation sessions with members of the public.
The consultation period has been extended until the end of the month.
Accessibility
NDIS participant Megan Spindler Smith spoke to TDA about their experience accessing menstrual supports and what these proposed changes could mean for them.
Smith has a physical disability that impacts their connective tissues and requires alternative menstrual products. They said standard products like tampons and pads mean their “fingers or hands will dislocate” when using them.
Without the financial support from the NDIS, Smith is concerned about their ability to afford the alternative products.
Smith said removing financial support for menstrual products from the NDIS is a “deep concern” and removes “accessibility tools and supports”.
“I need to still be able to do my job and still be able to have my life…and I can’t do that when I am dealing with products that are not accessible for me to use.”
NDIS participant Megan Spindler Smith
Advocates
Acting CEO for Women With Disabilities, Sophie Cusworth, told TDA that women and gender-diverse people living with disabilities can experience “exacerbated disadvantage on the basis of both gender and disability”.
Cusworth said advocacy for “accessible, adaptive, appropriate period products” from people with lived experience is critical.
“We need to see this co-design at all stages of policy that impacts our lives because ultimately we are the experts in our support needs, in our disabilities, and in our daily lives,” Cusworth said.
