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

This includes issues that affect participants.

Participants are people with disability who take part in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Members shared reports about these issues with the NDIA.

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

Providers support people with disability by delivering a service.

Reference Group members said some participants are worried about changes to travel costs for providers.

These changes affect participants who live far away from cities or towns more than other participants.

This is because providers need to travel a lot further to support participants in these areas.

Members said the NDIA should get organisations to train more workers in these areas.

This includes:

• the government
• disability organisations.

The NDIA said they are checking the rules about paying for providers to travel in these areas.

Reference Group members said people are confused about what supports the NDIS:

• can pay for

• can’t pay for.

Some people are also worried about certain supports that the NDIS can’t pay for.

Members said the NDIA needs to do more to help the community understand the NDIS supports lists.

This includes sharing more information.

Funding periods tell you:

• how long your money from the NDIS needs to last
• when you can start using more money from the NDIS.

Reference Group members said people are worried about the new short funding periods.

Members said short funding periods could put participants at risk.

For example:

• if they need a lot of support for a short time
• if there is an emergency.

An emergency is a dangerous situation that no one expects to happen.

For example, a bushfire or flood.

People in the community also think the NDIA needs to share information about funding periods in more languages.

The NDIA said the new funding periods will make sure participants have enough money for the supports they need.

Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is housing for people with disability who need extra support most of the time.

Reference Group members said people are worried about the information the NDIA shares about SDA.

The community want information that is easier to understand.

Reference Group members talked about First Nations people with disability who passed away recently.

These people passed away after they were arrested by the police.

Members said the police use violence when they don’t need to.

Violence is when someone:

• hurts you
• scares you
• controls you.

This also makes the community lose trust in the police.

The NDIA asked an expert to check the price of art and music therapy in the NDIS.

Therapy includes different types of support that can help improve how:

• you think and feel
• your body moves.

Reference Group members asked the NDIA for an update about art and music therapy.

Reference Group members said people are worried about more people with intellectual disability experiencing homelessness.

People who are experiencing homelessness don’t have a safe place to live.

Members talked about 2 housing services that recently closed down.

Members said these services didn’t give people much time to find another place to live.

The NDIA helped these people find a place to live.

Members said the NDIA did a good job of helping these people.

Reference Group members shared a report from a meeting at the United Nations.

The meeting is called the Conference of State Parties (COSP).

COSP is a meeting:

• between different countries
• about the rights of people with disability.

Rights are rules about how people must treat you:

• fairly
• equally.

The report looked at disability programs around the world.

Members said:

• the NDIS was a good program
• Australia is lucky to have the NDIS.