The Australian Government has outlined reforms to the NDIS that will ensure a better experience for participants and make sure the Scheme is there for the future.
Reforms need to, and will be done, in a measured and considered way.
We will take the time needed to get changes right. We will transition to new arrangements in a careful and considered way over time.
Reforms will be guided by good plans for implementation – developed in partnership with people with disability and the disability community.
We are working closely with people with disability and representatives from the disability community to co-design 6 key initiatives which will ensure that the NDIS delivers better outcomes for participants.
These initiatives are focused on:
- Addressing workforce capability to improve the consistency of access and planning decisions. This includes increasing the number of specialised planners.
- Processes to support participants around better planning to manage their funding.
- Implementing a lifetime planning approach so plans are more transparent and enable flexibility for life events.
- Improving the consistency of supported independent living decisions.
- Helping participants understand and access evidenced-based supports.
- Supporting staff to detect, respond to, and reduce provider fraud and non-compliance.
We know that working with people with disability and the disability community is the only way to ensure the NDIS is the best it can be.
That's why the working groups aligned to these initiatives include people with disability and are co-chaired by a Disability Representative and Carer Organisation (DRCO) / Independent Advisory Council (IAC) member and an NDIA representative.
The co-chairs of each working group meet monthly as an Implementation Steering Committee to provide oversight across the program.
The IAC and DRCOs also hold a joint meeting quarterly to discuss and report on the progress of the co-design work.
A summary of the meetings can be found below:
Selecting Disability Representative and Carer Organisations
The 27 Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCOs) who participate in NDIA co-design projects, were selected for a number of reasons including their:
- Experience representing people with disability at the Australian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations.
- Significant involvement in the formation of the NDIS and National Disability Strategy and contribution to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability.
- Extensive knowledge on specific policies that affect people with a disability and expertise in accessible consultation and person-centred engagement.
- Strong established connections to large networks of people with a disability across Australia.