The Rural and Remote Advisory Group met for the third time on 8 July 2025.
The meeting was held online.
Focus of the meeting
The meeting covered:
- The First Nations Strategy
- Market stewardship
- Membership.
First Nations Strategy
The NDIA shared an overview of the First Nations Strategy, which is an initiative for the NDIA to deliver improved outcomes for First Nations people with disability. The NDIA intends to achieve this through:
- Cultural safety and equity
- Co-design and governance
- Sector strengthening
- Indigenous data sovereignty.
The Group discussed:
- How to properly ensure positive outcomes in the delivery of the First Nations Strategy.
- How to foster connection, trust, and credibility within First Nations communities to enable the successful delivery of the NDIS and meaningful co-design and consultation with First Nations communities and stakeholders.
Market stewardship
The NDIA led a discussion on pricing and market stewardship in the NDIS. The NDIA recognises that competition between service providers is not enough to fuel thin markets in terms of pricing and effectiveness.
The Group discussed:
- NDIS costs have affected the market holistically, disadvantaging non-participants in terms of prioritising NDIS participants due to being able to charge maximum thresholds for payment of services, administrative costs, and travel time.
- Members also raised concern of how thin markets are causing allied health providers to withdraw their services in remote areas.
Membership
The Group agreed to expanding membership in the Rural and Remote Advisory Group, specifically organisations that have First Nations representation and are First Nations focused, as well as additional rural and remote based organisations.
The Group also agreed and endorsed establishing a lived experience subgroup within the Rural and Remote Advisory Group.
Rural Remote Advisory Group next meeting
The Rural Remote Advisory Group’s next meeting is 3 September 2025.