Children’s Expert Advisory Group Meeting September 2024

The Children’s Expert Advisory Group (CEAG) met for their second time on Tuesday 3 September 2024. This was an online meeting. 

Focus of the meeting

The chair, Ms Samantha Taylor, General Manager Children Taskforce, NDIA welcomed members to their second meeting. The meeting focused on discussing the priorities that the CEAG might include in their workplan. To support this discussion the CEAG received a presentation on the NDIA’s co-design approach.

CEAG’s Priorities and Work Plan

Ms Taylor led a discussion on the elements of the pathway for children younger than 9 into and within the NDIS and areas for reform that the NDIA must progress. Priority areas where CEAG advice on specific technical matters will assist the NDIA were discussed. 

The CEAG will use its work plan to identify and sequence advice that they provide into the NDIA reform work and co-design approach to design changes to NDIA processes. CEAG also considered a journey mapping approach to consider a future state proposed pathway for children younger than 9. 

Members identified the following potential advice areas for including in their workplan: 

  • Developmental delay in the NDIS.
  • Linkages between NDIS supports for children and families with other support systems.
  • Needs assessment for children who meet access for NDIS supports.
  • Best practice early intervention supports for children. 
  • Outcomes and progress measurements of the impact of NDIS supports for children.
  • Transitions (recognising the changing support needs of children and young people, how the NDIS can support children and their families through key life stages, and transition to the new planning framework).

Members discussed ways of bringing in expertise from other stakeholders as they develop various pieces of advice.

They expressed a strong desire to engage with other representative organisations to make sure that their advice reflects broader perspectives, particularly where there are considerations in their advice, both for some groups of children and their families or to obtain specific expertise on some topics.

NDIA Co-design Approach

Ms. Eliza Hazlett, Branch Manager Co-Design, NDIA joined the meeting and provided a general update on the development of the NDIA’s co-design approach and considerations for co-design in relation to reforms in the NDIS. 

Ms. Taylor and Ms. Hazlett identified key areas where the CEAG’s areas of advice might connect with existing co-design activities.

There was a preliminary discussion on where co-design could be used as an input to CEAG advice and where CEAG might suggest co-design to inform some of its advice. 

Other Business 

There will be targeted discussion with a sub-group of members to scope initial advice on developmental delay for consideration by the CEAG and for engagement with other stakeholders.

Next Meeting

CEAG’s will meet again on 1 October 2024. The next meeting will focus on finalising CEAG workplan, developmental delay advice and co-design approaches that incorporate children and young people and their families.