DRXK and National Disability Insurance Agency

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the dispute between DRXK, a child participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and the National Disability Insurance Agency. The core of the dispute concerned the Agency's decision regarding the provision of reasonable and necessary supports for DRXK.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the supports sought by DRXK, including applied behaviour analysis, occupational therapy, speech therapy, support worker assistance, and exercise physiology, constituted reasonable and necessary supports under the *National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013* (Cth). This involved assessing whether these supports were related to the participant's disability, were likely to be effective, represented value for money, and were most appropriately funded or provided through the Scheme.

Member L Proske reasoned that the original decision of the Agency had failed to adequately consider the evidence presented regarding DRXK's needs and the potential benefits of the requested therapies. The Tribunal emphasised the importance of a holistic approach to assessing supports, considering how different therapies could work in conjunction to achieve the participant's goals. The decision was ultimately set aside and remitted to the Respondent for reconsideration in accordance with directions that emphasised a thorough and individualised assessment of DRXK's circumstances and the evidence supporting the proposed supports.