Our reports

2 people having a conversation with a Reference Group member. Above the 2 people is a problem icon inside a speech bubble.

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

A Reference Group member having a conversation with an NDIA worker. Above the Reference Group member is a problem icon inside a speech bubble.

The Reference Group members shared these issues with the NDIA.

What did the reports talk about?

NDIS plans

An NDIA planner supporting someone beneath an ear with a line though it inside a magnifying glass.

Reference Group members shared that some NDIA planners only focus on one disability.

An NDIS planner holding a plan document.

An NDIA planner is someone who:

  • makes new plans
  • changes plans.

A participant in a wheelchair beneath an Autism icon and an ear with a line through it.

NDIA planners should focus on every disability that affects a participant’s life.

A prson raising their hand, a problem icon and an NDIS plan.

Members explained it can be hard for some culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people to take part in the NDIS.

A group of people from different backgrounds beneath 3 speech bubbles with 'Hello' written in 3 different languages.

CALD people:

  • come from different backgrounds
  • speak languages other than English.

2 speech bubbles with a language other than English and a problem icon.

For example, it can be hard for smaller CALD communities to find information about the NDIS in the languages they speak.

This makes it harder for these communities to take part in the NDIS.

3 people beneath an arrow pointing down. One person is raising their hand.

Members also explained that less people manage their own plans when they are from:

  • CALD backgrounds
  • First Nations backgrounds.

A person handing an information document to another person.

And members want the NDIA to share information to help them understand why this happens.

Someone supporting a participant beneath a clock with 3 lines to show speed.

Members shared that the NDIS should be quicker to give support to people who have disability because of a stroke.

A blood clot icon with an arrow pointing to a brain.

A stroke is when blood clots in someone’s brain.

When blood clots, it gets thick.

The blood clot stops the other blood getting to your brain.

Someone giving 2 thumbs up and a graph icon.

Members explained that NDIS plans should include ways participants can keep their personal data safe.

A graph icon, a document that says 'Records' and an information icon.

When we talk about data, we mean:

  • facts
  • information
  • records.

A computer showing a robot, a thumbs up and an arrow pointing up.

Members also explained that the NDIS could use artificial intelligence to make NDIS plans better.

Sometimes we call it AI.

A problem icon with a tick and a tick and cross inside of a speech bubble.

AI technology can:

  • solve problems
  • help the NDIS make decisions.

A person raising their hand, a graph icon and a safety icon.

But if the NDIS uses AI, they must have a plan to keep people with disability and their data safe.

A stack of calendars and an identity document with a picture of someone and a tick.

Members shared that people wait a long time to get proof of their disability from the health system.

NDIS services and supports

A bowl of food, a bucket and a mop, and an arrow pointing up.

Reference Group members explained that men with brain injuries often get more NDIS supports for food and cleaning.

A person with a bandage wrapped around their head and a brain icon.

Brain injuries can happen when someone:

  • has an accident
  • hurts their head badly
  • damages their brain.

A man and a woman both raising their hands. There is an arrow pointing up above the man.

Men often get more of these supports than women with brain injuries.

Someone supporting a child in front of a house and a problem icon.

Members shared some older CALD parents find it hard to get home and living supports for their children.

A child with Down syndrome doing a learning activity.

This includes children with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome affects how you grow and think.

A parent raising their hand beneath a speech bubble showing a language other than English and an arrow splitting into 3 different directions.

Some older CALD parents find this hard because they have a different:

  • language they speak
  • culture.

A group of people in an African festival.

Your culture is:

  • your way of life
  • what’s important to you.

Members worry that school leaver employment supports (SLES) help young people with disability to find work that:

A person wearing a chef's uniform and holding a whisk beneath a clock with 3 arrows to show speed.

  • is only short-term

A person supporting someone in front of a house in a remote area. Above them is a cross.

  • keeps them away from the community.

A Year 12 student raising their arms beneath a magnifying glass and a tick and a cross inside a speech bubble.

SLES is for Year 12 students with disability who:

  • aren’t ready to start looking for a job right away
  • need help to work out what job would be right for them.

Someone wearing an apron and raising their hand next to a change icon.

Members shared that employers should change their jobs to suit people with disability.

An employer shaking hands with someone beneath a dollar sign.

An employer is a person who hires other people to work for them.

An NDIS worker supporting a participant beneath an arrow pointing down.

This could mean some participants will need less support from the NDIS to help them work.

NDIS providers and the community

A provider holding a clipboard next to a stack of money.

Reference Group members shared that some SLES providers use the program to support their own money goals.

3 providers.

Providers support people with disability by delivering a service.

A person supporting someone and a document showing an information icon.

Members explained that the NDIA should share information about what support Australians with disability need.

A provider shaking hands with someone beneath a tick.

This will help providers offer services that different communities need.

A worker wearing a uniform next to a document showing a photo of the worker and a safety icon.

Members also explained that some people might stop being support workers if it takes too long to get their Worker Screening Check.

A Worker Screening Check is a way to help keep people safe.

A support worker beneath a speech bubble and a cross.

Members shared that some support workers share participant’s stories with other people.

They should not share this information.

A support worker having a conversation with someone beneath a question mark.

This happens when support workers:

  • have no one they can talk to
  • can’t find or use supports at work.

A person pointing at themselves and raising their hand beneath a thumbs down inside a speech bubble.

Members explained that some people with disability aren’t happy with some providers.

This includes providers who ask for certain information about their disability.

A provider supporting a participant beneath an emergency icon and a cross.

Members also explained that some participants don’t think their providers can support them well in an emergency.

A person with their hands on their head, a problem icon and a high risk icon.

An emergency:

  • is a dangerous situation
  • is a thing we don’t expect to happen
  • can put our health and safety at risk.

Someone pointing at themselves and raising their hand next to a mental health icon.

Your mental health is about how you:

  • think and feel about yourself
  • deal with things in your life
  • manage your feelings.

An NDIS worker supporting a participant beneath a stressed face and a cross.

Members shared that participants worry they will lose some of their NDIS supports.

They worry they will lose their supports if there are better mental health services.

For example, psychosocial disability supports.

A person supporting someone else beneath a brain icon and a sad face inside a thought bubble.

A psychosocial disability affects your mental health.

It can affect how you:

  • think
  • feel
  • deal with other people.

A stack of calendars, a thumbs up and an arrow pointing up.

Members worry that it might take the NDIA a long time to make the NDIS better.

This includes using ideas from the NDIS Review.

A government building, an NDIS plan and a magnifying glass.

The Australian Government is checking the NDIS to find out what:

  • works well
  • could be better.

They call it the NDIS Review.

3 people beneath a magnifying glass.

It also includes using ideas from the Disability Royal Commission.

A government building beneath a thumbs down inside of a thought bubble and a tool inside of a thought bubble.

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

It helps us find out what:

  • went wrong
  • we can fix.