What issues did the community share? | Children, Young People and Families Reference Group meeting bulletin 11 February 2026

2 community members having a conversation with a Reference Group member. Above the 2 community members is a speech bubble showing a problem icon.

Reference Group members connected with the community to find out about issues that affect them.

A diverse group of people with disability. 2 of the people are raising their hands. Above them is a problem icon.

This includes issues that affect participants.

Participants are people with disability who take part in the NDIS.

An IAC Member and an NDIA worker having a conversation beneath a problem icon inside of a speech bubble. The problem icon is an exclamation point inside of a triangle.

Members shared reports about these issues with the NDIA.

3 NDIA workers below a speech bubble.

People from the NDIA also shared their response to some of these issues.

Young people with disability in Western Australia

A map of Australia with a location marker on Western Australia.

Reference Group members talked about something very sad that happened in Western Australia.

Flowers on a grave and headstone.

2 young people with disability passed away.

A sad face inside of a speech bubble.

Members talked about how sad they and the disability community feel.

Thriving Kids

A person who looks worried next to a speech bubble with a problem icon inside of it.

Reference Group members said the community are worried about Thriving Kids.

Someone supporting a child to play.

Thriving Kids is a new program for children who need extra support.

An arrow pointing from a child to a young person. There is a problem icon between them.

For example, children with developmental delay.

A developmental delay is when a child takes longer than usual to learn things like walking or talking.

2 parents and a child with disability. One of the parents looks worried.

The community are worried about how Thriving Kids will affect families.

An NDIS document next to a cross.

Some parents are worried they will not be able to use the NDIS after Thriving Kids starts.

The NDIA said:

An NDIS document behind 3 children.

bullet it will keep offering the NDIS to children

A change icon next to a cross. The change icon is 2 arrows pointing to each other in a circular shape.

bullet there are no changes to who can use the NDIS yet.end of list

An NDIS document next to a person pointing to themself and a tick.

The NDIA also said it hasn’t changed the way children can join the NDIS.

Information from the NDIA

A person reading a document next to a thought bubble with a question mark inside of it.

Reference Group members said the NDIA shares information that isn’t accessible.

A person using their laptop at a desk. Above them is a thought bubble with a tick.

When information is accessible, it’s easy to:

find and use
understand.

2 hands holding a document with a change icon on it.

Members also said the NDIA needs to share more information about changes to the NDIS.

2 parents and a young person smiling.

The NDIA said it’s working to make sure information is accessible for:

participants
families and carers.

A NDIS plan document with a pencil writing on it.

The NDIA also said it sent an update about the new way of making NDIS plans in February.

Someone supporting a person to read a document. There is a speech bubble between them with a tick and a cross inside of it.

It sent this update to:

participants
people who support participants to make decisions.

A person holding their head and looking stressed. There is a stack of documents next to them with an information icon on them.

The NDIA doesn’t want to make participants and families feel stressed by sending too much information.

Funding periods

A person who looks confused.

Reference Group members said families are still confused about funding periods.

A stack of 3 calendars with a dollar sign on it and a tick.

Funding periods tell a participant:

how long their funding needs to last
when they can start using more funding.

An NDIS document next to a dollar sign.

Funding is money from an NDIS plan that pays for the supports a participant needs.

A ticked check box and dollar sign next to a shower head, cooking tools and cleaning bottle.

An NDIS plan has information about:

a participant and their goals
what supports a participant needs
what the NDIS will pay for.

A parent and their child meeting with an NDIA worker. There is a speech bubble above the NDIA worker.

Many parents and carers feel they need more support to understand funding periods.

An NDIS plan inside of a speech bubble.

The NDIA talked about the new way of making NDIS plans.

A person holding their NDIS plan next to an icon of 3 arrows pointing in different directions.

It said these changes will support participants to use their NDIS plans in different ways.

Cost of supports and services

A support worker supporting a person with disability. There is a dollar sign next to them.

Reference Group members talked about the costs of disability supports and services.

An NDIS worker in front of a house far away from cities or towns. There is a dollar sign next to them.

This includes the costs of supports and services in areas very far away from cities and towns.

Artificial intelligence

A robot face inside of a speech bubble. There is a question mark next to it.

Reference Group members asked the NDIA about how it uses artificial intelligence (AI).

A computer screen with a robot face on it.

AI is when computers think and learn.

People can use it to solve problems and do tasks.

An NDIS plan with a cross.

The NDIA said it doesn’t use AI to make NDIS plans.