Making advice better for children and young people

Two people listening to a child at an art and craft table.

Leah asked the Reference Group for advice about how the NDIA can listen to what children and young people have to say.

A young person talking, while two people are listening.

The Reference Group said the NDIA needs to support children and young people to have their own voice.

Young people, one of them has their hand raised and there is a disability icon above them.

They said it’s important to listen to children and young people who have different:

  • ages
  • disabilities
  • needs.

A child sitting on their parent's lap, talking to someone else in sign language.

They also said the Reference Group needs to include children and young people when they make the advice.

This includes children and young people who don’t use words or speech to communicate.

The Reference Group said we also need to include children and young people as members of:

Three people standing behind a lectern with the badge IAC

  • the Council

A group of people, 2 of them have speech bubbles above them.

  • it's Reference Groups

A group of people with a speech bubble The NDIA logo is above them.

  • the NDIA’s Participant Reference Group.

A person writing a document.

They said the NDIA should think about writing a new document about how they will:

  • work with children and young people
  • listen to the voices of children and young people.

A person in a suit speaking, while a young person is behind them with their arms crossed. There is a cross above.

The Reference Group said information the NDIA shares with the community should include children and young people being themselves.

And the NDIA shouldn’t have adults speaking for them.

A person giving a thumbs up. Above is a safety icon and a services icon.

They said it’s important to think about how the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) can help with this work.

The NDIS Commission makes sure people with disability who take part in the NDIS:

  • are safe
  • get good services.

A person supporting someone else with a document. There is a thumbs up icon above.

They also said it’s important for the NDIS Commission to make sure children and young people receive good services.