The purpose of this communique is to detail the key outcomes of the Co-design Advisory Group’s 14th meeting, which took place on Tuesday 11 October 2022.
The primary purpose of the Co-design Advisory Group is for the Independent Advisory Council (IAC), Department of Social Services (DSS) and the disability sector to provide strategic advice to the NDIA on the implementation of co-design and engagement processes within the disability community.
The Co-design Advisory Group works collaboratively to:
- ensure disability community perspectives on issues facing the NDIS are represented
- gather feedback on the co-design priorities and approaches with peers and members and
- provide and receive strategic advice on the design, implementation and evaluation of co-design and engagement
The following members and NDIA representatives were in attendance.
Chairperson
- Sharon Boyce, IAC
Members
- Ross Joyce, CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
- Ellen Skladzien, CEO, Down Syndrome Australia
- Dwayne Cranfield, CEO, National Ethnic Disability Alliance
- Mary Mallett, CEO, Disability Advocacy Network Australia
- Sharon Boyce, IAC
- Leah Van Poppel, IAC
- Julie Yeend, DSS
- Trish Drury, DSS
- Natasha Lackner, DSS
NDIA representatives
- Shannon Rees, A/g General Manager, Communications and Engagement
- Liz Callaghan, Branch Manager, Co-design and Engagement
- Sam Bennett, General Manager, Policy, Advice and Research
- Joshua Ng, Branch Manager, Strategy
- Jess Walker, Branch Manager, Agency Policy
Secretariat
- Matthew Wright, Director, Sector Engagement and Advice
- Melissa Young, Director, Co-design and Engagement
- Caitlin Haddad, Assistant Director, Sector Engagement and Advice
Apologies
- Leighton Jay, Jennifer Cullen
Meeting summary
The Chair acknowledged the Traditional Owners of the land, paying respect to their Elders, past and present, and also paid respects to people with disability.
Minister’s attendance and discussion
The Chair welcomed Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Hon Bill Shorten. Minister Shorten held a closed discussion with external members of the Co-design Advisory Group, responding to the IAC and Sector members queries and feedback regarding the NDIS Review.
Debrief following Minister Shorten’s attendance, noting any actions
The Chair introduced Liz Callaghan, Branch Manager of Co-design and Engagement Branch NDIA, to lead a debrief session with external members of the Co-design Advisory Group on Minister Shorten’s address.
‘Have your say’ website update
The Chair introduced Liz Callaghan, Branch Manager of Co-design and Engagement Branch NDIA, to provide an update on the ‘Have your say’ website.
The ‘Have your say’ website is nearly complete, noting the timing of completion and ‘go live’ to be determined.
Feedback
Members wished to reiterate the need for the web pages to be accessible to different cultural and language groups. Google translate is considered problematic, and suggested looking at the DSS Disability website that NEDA provided assistance with.
Co-design Projects Update
The Chair introduced Sam Bennett, General Manager of Agency Policy and Joshua Ng, Branch Manager of Strategy, to provide an update on co-design.
- The Home and Living co-design project has finished 120 hours of workshops
- 24 workshops have been held on Participant Safety – with ongoing work to ensure variety of voices.
- Long series of workshops in partnership with Inclusion Australia on Supported Decision-making.
- Upwards of 30 workshops have been held on Information Gathering and Planning.
- The First Nations Strategy refresh is entering its second phase of deeper engagement.
Feedback
- Members requested that the Participant Safety group consult more with children, young people and women. Members also requested a feedback session for group members to provide clarity on decisions made and the roadmap moving forward.
- Members expressed interest in the development of a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that monitored power sharing across all co-design projects.
Meeting close
The Co-design Advisory Group meeting concluded.
The next meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday 8 November 2022.
If you have any feedback or questions about the Co-design Advisory Group, please email [email protected] .