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

The Reference Group members shared these issues with the NDIA.

Reference Group Members shared that the NDIS still focuses on what participants can’t do.

They think the NDIS should think more about what participants can do.

Members also think the NDIS can do more to support participants with psychosocial disability.

A psychosocial disability affects your mental health.

It can affect how you:

• think
• feel
• deal with other people.

Members also shared that it is hard for First Nations peoples to find and use services and supports.

This includes the NDIS.

There aren’t enough supports close to First Nations peoples.

This includes housing.

This also includes people who support them to:

• understand what someone is saying in another language

• find and use services and supports.

Members also told us it is hard for First Nations peoples to get supports in the justice system.

For example, supports in court or prison.

Reference Group members shared challenges with supported decision-making.

Supported decision-making is when someone helps you make important decisions about your life and how you will live.

They explained the NDIA’s supported decision‑making policy will be important.

A policy is:

• a plan for how the NDIA should do things
• where rules come from.

Reference Group members also told us it is getting harder for participants to get positive behaviour supports.

Positive behaviour supports are ways to support how a participant acts or behaves.

Some participants have to use different types of support instead.

Members also shared that people with disability are happy the NDIA is doing research.

But some people worry it will be hard for the NDIA to make supports and services better using research.

The community worry people running the NDIA don’t have enough lived experience of disability.

If you have lived experience of disability, you:

• have a disability
• know what life can be like for people with disability.

The community really worry the people running the NDIA don’t know enough about psychosocial disability.

Members also explained there are challenges with support for psychosocial disability.

Some service providers say it is harder to find skilled workers with experience.

And they have to pay unskilled workers the same.

Providers deliver services to people with disability.

Members worry that services and supports might not be good quality.

And participants will have less choice and control.

Some psychosocial providers also say it costs too much money to have good support workers.

Members worry other providers might try to provide these supports.

But they might not have the right skills.

Reference Group members shared that some providers have changed what type of NDIS funding they use for supports and services.

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

This means some people can’t use their funding for the supports and services they need because they have a different type of funding.

Some people with disability live in homes where people can rent a bedroom.

But some of these homes cost a lot of money.

This makes it hard for people who get support from the government.

For example, the disability support pension (DSP).

The DSP is a payment from the government to help with your day-to-day living costs.

Allied health professionals support people with their health care.

Reference Group members shared that participants want to use allied health professionals.

Participants don’t know which allied health professionals they can use with their funding.

They also don’t know when the NDIS gives funding for allied health professionals.

Reference Group members explained that NDIA staff need more training to support all participants.

This includes making sure they know how to support participants:

• with psychosocial disability

• from different backgrounds

• who have experienced trauma.

Trauma is something bad that happens to you that can make you feel:

• scared
• stressed
• worried.

Reference Group members explained some participants think the NDIS focuses on disabilities that people can see.

People want the NDIS to do more to support participants with disabilities people can’t see.

Reference Group members explained that people who live away from cities and towns should still get good support.

This is more important when an emergency happens.

For example, a flood.

Reference Group members shared some challenges with other supports and services.

The NDIS should do more to make sure participants who need support in their home are safe.

Members also think there are not enough psychosocial supports for people who can’t use the NDIS.

Some businesses only employ people with disability.

They are called Australian Disability Enterprises.

But some people think this keeps people with disability away from other people.

More people in the community want all businesses to be inclusive for people with disability.