What important updates were in the meeting?

The NDIS Review final report

A review document.

Leah and the NDIA talked to IAC Members about the NDIS Review’s final report.

IAC Members shared that they need more time to understand:

An IAC Member thinking beneath a lightbulb inside of a thought bubble.

  • the ideas and actions in the final report

A large group of people beneath a question mark inside of a thought bubble.

  • how the final report will affect the community.

A document showing an information icon and an accessibility icon.

IAC Members shared that there needs to be accessible information about the final report.

Someone using a laptop beneath a tick inside of a thought bubble.

When information is accessible, it is easy to:

  • find and use
  • understand.

An IAC Member beneath a lightbulb inside of a thought bubble and a question mark.

IAC Members also shared that some people might worry about what the NDIS Review's ideas mean for them.

An NDIS document and a change icon.

IAC Members explained that the Minister of the NDIS will work with the community to make changes to the NDIS.

A minister behind a bench that says 'NDIS'.

A minister leads an area of government.

Someone reading a document beneath a speech bubble.

IAC Members also explained that governments will share their thoughts on the final report in early 2024.

This includes:

An Australian Government building.

  • the Australian Government

A state or territory building.
  • state and territory governments.

The IAC’s advice update

Samantha Jenkinson smiling.

Ms Samantha Jenkinson gave IAC Members an update on the IAC’s advice for the NDIA Board.

An advice document showing an older participant.

The IAC advice is about participants who are getting older.

A group of participants. 2 are raising their hand.

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

To support the IAC’s advice, Samantha said the IAC should look at:

An NDIS document, a magnifying glass and a lightbulb inside of a speech bubble.

  • ideas from the NDIS Review

3 IAC Members behind a bench that says 'IAC'. Above them is a speech bubble.

  • advice the IAC has shared before

People having a conversation in an IAC Reference Group.

  • advice from the IAC’s Reference Groups.

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

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

IAC Members having a meeting in an office.

The IAC will keep working on its advice for participants who are getting older in 2024.

Update on the NDIA co-design projects

3 people working on a large document together. One of them is pointing at the document.

Co-design is when people work together to plan something new.

A person from the NDIA having a meeting with IAC Members. Above the NDIA worker is an update icon inside of a speech bubble.

The NDIA gave IAC Members an update on its co‑design projects.

Someone raising their hand beneath a speech bubble and an importance icon.

IAC Members explained that it’s important for people with disability to share their thoughts on this work.

An NDIA worker holding a document beneath a tick inside of a speech bubble.

They want the NDIA to make sure this happens.

The NDIA’s work on hospital supports

Someone supporting another person in front of a hospital with an arrow coming out of the front door.

The NDIA gave IAC Members an update on its work to support participants when they:

  • stay in hospital
  • leave hospital.

A principles document showing a list and an importance icon.

IAC Members shared their support for the NDIA’s new principles.

Principles are important ideas the NDIA should always think about.

An NDIA worker holding a document beneath a speech bubble. The speech bubble shows a healthcare worker supporting a participant.

These principles will guide the way the NDIA talks about supports for participants in hospital.

3 IAC Members behind a bench that says 'IAC'. Above them is a thumbs up inside of a speech bubble.

IAC Members also shared that they are happy with how the NDIA has used their advice.

A speech bubble, a lightbulb, a stack of books and a cross.

IAC Members explained that hospital staff don’t always have the right skills to support some people.

Someone supporting another person in a medical room.

For example, people who need more support to communicate.

A healthcare worker supporting another person in front of a hospital.

People who need more support should have a support worker for the whole time they are in hospital.

Update from the Department of Social Services

3 DSS workers in front of a government building.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) shared the work it has done on Australia’s Disability Strategy.

We call it the Strategy.

A strategy document with an arrow pointing forward.

A strategy is a plan for how the Australian Government will do things in the future.

2 people looking at a document together.

IAC Members explained that all levels of government should work together to better support people with disability.

Someone reading a document beneath a tick inside of a thought bubble and an arrow pointing up.

IAC Members shared that it’s important for more people to know and understand the Strategy.

A government worker behind a bench. Above them is a tick inside of a thought bubble.

They worry that only governments know a lot about the Strategy.

Someone raising their hand beneath an update icon inside of a speech bubble.

DSS also gave an update on the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program.

An ILC document showing a link icon and 2 hands supporting an information icon.

The ILC program gives grants to organisations that support people with disability.

A grant document showing a graph and a dollar sign.

A grant is money from the government to pay for important work that helps others.

An NDIS document and a dollar sign.

IAC Members explained that funding for some supports and services should last longer.

Funding is money from the government that pays for services and supports.

Funding should last longer for organisations:

A person using a wheelchair and holding a document in front of a building with an accessible ramp.

  • run by people with disability

A speech bubble, a lightbulb, a stack of books and an arrow pointing up.

  • that build people’s skills.

Someone giving a presentation to a group of people in front of a board showing a disability icon. Next to them is a dollar sign.

IAC Members shared that it’s important to give funding to programs that help people learn about disability.

A grant document, a thumbs down and a thumbs up.

IAC Members also shared that they want to learn more about how well grants are working to make things better for people with disability.

The IAC’s Work Plan

We will make our new Work Plan after the Australian Government shares its thoughts about:

A document showing a magnifying glass and a list.

  • the NDIS Review’s final report

A document that says 'Final Report' and shows a list.

  • the Disability Royal Commission’s final report.

A work plan document showing a tick.

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

A government building beneath 2 thought bubbles. One thought bubble shows a thumbs down. The other thought bubble shows a hand holding a tool.

A royal commission is how the government looks into a big problem.

It helps us find out what:

  • went wrong
  • we can fix.