What important updates were in the meeting?

Thoughts on the Disability Royal Commission

The Australian Government building with a thought bubble showing a disability icon.

Dr Rhonda Galbally talked to IAC Members about her work with the Disability Royal Commission.

A calendar showing '29 September 2023', and someone giving a report to another person.

On 29 September 2023 the Disability Royal Commission shared their final report.

A booklet titled 'Advice' and a pen.

Rhonda explained what the Australian Government will do next with the advice from the final report.

She also explained it’s important for the IAC to:

3 people behind a panel that says 'IAC'.

  • be involved in the advice from the final report

A large, diverse group of people with a speech bubble.

  • support the community to have their say.

A hand holding a house, a person with their hand up and an up arrow on a thumbs up.

IAC Members shared that there should be better home and living supports for people who want to live on their own.

2 students inside a curved arrow, one of them is in a wheelchair. There is an arrow pointing up.

IAC Members also shared that schools should be more inclusive for people with disability.

Supported independent living (SIL)

A person giving a presentation to a group.

An NDIA staff member talked to IAC Members about supported independent living (SIL).

A participant and a support worker outside a house with a ramp.

SIL is help with day-to-day tasks around your home so you can:

  • do things for yourself
  • learn new skills.

A participant choosing between social supports, cleaning supports and groceries.

They gave IAC Members an update about how the NDIS will support choice and control for participants.

IAC Members explained that some people don’t know:

A person shrugging with their hands raised.

  • what SIL is

A woman thinking and a thought bubble showing a hand holding a house and a question mark.

  • what home and living supports they can use.

A hand holding a house and an up arrow.

IAC Members shared that the NDIS should offer more home and living options that support what participants need.

2 people in front of a house.

IAC Members explained that individualised living options (ILO) can support people to live alone.

ILO is a way of setting up the support you want at home.

Someone supporting a participant in front of a house with a ramp and an arrow pointing up.

Many people use SIL.

But not as many people use ILO.

2 people in front of a house with a cross.

IAC Members want to know what stops people from using ILO.

A man frowning with thumbs down.

IAC Members shared that the NDIA should work to understand why more people are not using ILO.

IAC Members shared that there should be more information about ILO for:

A large group of diverse people.

  • the community

An NDIS plan between 2 people, one person is a support worker.

  • support coordinators.

A woman helping another woman read a document.

A support coordinator is someone who helps you plan and use your supports.

A document with an information icon and 2 people. One of them is supporting the other.

For example, information that will promote people with disability who use ILO living with people without disability.

A smiling person in a wheelchair pointing to themself with their other hand raised and a house icon.

IAC Members explained that it’s important people with disability still have choice and control to live on their own.

IAC Reference Group Work Plans

4 smiling people around a table with documents on it.

IAC Members talked about the work the IAC’s 4 Reference Groups will focus on.

A group of people beneath 2 speech bubbles. 2 people are raising their hands.

A Reference Group is a group of people who give us advice about a certain topic.

A document titled 'Work Plan' with a tick box on it.

IAC Members also talked about how this work will support the IAC’s Work Plan.

The Work Plan is a document that explains what the IAC will work on.

A document with 2 magnifying glasses on it and a cross.

IAC Members explained that the IAC and their Reference Groups should not all focus on the same work.