What issues did the community share? | Independent Advisory Council meeting bulletin

2 community members having a conversation with a Reference Group member. Above the 2 community members is a speech bubble showing a problem icon. The problem icon is an exclamation point inside of a triangle.

IAC 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. There is a problem icon above them.

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.

IAC Members shared reports about these issues with people from the NDIA.

3 NDIA workers below a speech bubble.

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

Changes to NDIS plans

2 people next to a speech bubble with an NDIS plan inside of it. One of the people is pointing to themself and raising their other hand.

IAC Members shared what the community are saying about NDIS plans.

An NDIS plan.

An NDIS plan has information about:

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

An arrow pointing down next to a dollar sign and a speech bubble with a tick and a cross inside of it.

For example, Members shared that the community are talking about:

less choice and control in NDIS plans
less funding in NDIS plans.

An NDIS document with a dollar sign.

Funding is money from your NDIS plan that pays for the supports you need.

An NDIA worker next to a thought bubble.

Members shared what the NDIA should think about when it makes decisions about:

planning
funding.

A person pointing to themself and raising their other hand. There is a health icon next to them. It's a heart with a health cross next to it.

For example, the NDIA should look at a person’s:

experiences
medical history.

A rules document showing a list of ticks and crosses next to a question mark.

Members also asked the NDIA how supported decision-making will work in NDIS plans with the new planning rules.

An NDIA worker and a person looking at a computer. There is a speech bubble between them with a tick and a cross inside of it.

Supported decision-making is when someone supports you to make decisions about your life.

A hand holding cash next to a question mark.

For example, Members wanted to know how people can use money from their NDIS plans to pay for supported decision-making.

More support for CALD participants

2 people next to a cross. One of them is holding an NDIS plan.

IAC Members shared that culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) participants aren’t getting the support they need to use their NDIS plans.

A group of people from CALD backgrounds beneath 3 speech bubbles that say 'hello' in 3 different languages.

CALD people:

come from different cultures and backgrounds
speak languages other than English.

A CALD participant next to a speech bubble with a problem icon inside of it.

Members said CALD participants need to ask for help outside of the NDIS to get the support they need.

A person supporting someone with disability.

For example, they need support from family and friends.

Better information about Thriving Kids

A person looking worried.

IAC 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.

A parent supporting their child next to a thought bubble with a question mark inside of it.

Members shared that people are confused about how Thriving Kids will affect them.

Support for participants who manage their NDIS plans

A participant holding their NDIS plan next to an NDIA worker. There is a thought bubble above the NDIA worker with a cross inside of it.

IAC Members said that participants who manage their own NDIS plans feel like the NDIA doesn’t trust them.

Participants are worried that the NDIA doesn’t trust them to make decisions that:

A participant next to a speech bubble with a ticked check box inside of it.

bullet they can manage easily

A low risk icon with a problem icon.

bullet are low risk. end of list

A participant meeting with an NDIA worker.

Members asked the NDIA to better support participants to manage their own NDIS plans.

How the NDIA shares information

A person who looks worried.

IAC Members said the community doesn’t feel hopeful about the NDIS.

This includes:

A calendar with a tick on it.

bullet how it works now

A calendar with an arrow pointing forward.

bullet how it might work in the future. end of list

An NDIA worker talking to someone. There is a thumbs up icon above them.

Members asked the NDIA to think about better ways to communicate with the community.