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 worry that people tell older participants to leave the NDIS when they have health issues because of their age.

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

Members shared that the NDIS have more face‑to‑face meetings with participants.

And this makes the community happy.

Members also shared that there should be a focus on how home and living supports can help people:

• meet new people

• spend time with family and friends

• take part in their community.

Members explained that some participants have to wait a long time for home and living support.

This means some participants can’t get the support they need when they need it.

Members also explained that some people with disability don’t apply to the NDIS.

This includes people with disability who live far away from cities and towns.

They might not apply to the NDIS because there are not enough providers where they live.

Providers support people with disability by delivering a service.

Reference Group members worry that information about specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is hard to understand.

SDA is housing for people with disability who need extra support most of the time.

Members shared that some families don’t get the support they need as their child gets older.

For example, some families don’t get support to understand how their child can apply to the NDIS.

Some people with disability live on their own.

Members worry that some NDIA staff make them feel like they have to share their home with others.

Members shared that people with psychosocial disability should get housing that supports them to do things on their own.

A psychosocial disability affects your mental health.

It can affect how you:

• think
• feel
• deal with other people.

For example, housing that gives people with psychosocial disability their own:

• bedroom

• bathroom

• kitchen area.

An intellectual disability affects how you:

• learn new things
• solve problems
• communicate
• do things on your own.

Members explained that some people with intellectual disability don’t feel safe in supported independent living (SIL) housing.

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

• do things for yourself
• learn new skills.

People with intellectual disability should have more support to help them decide:

• where they want to live
• who they want to live with.

Reference Group members shared that some providers build accessible housing where it suits them.

When housing is accessible it:

• supports what you need
• is easy to move around in.

This might make it harder for people with disability to find a home close to their:

• family

• community.

Members also shared that the NDIS has rules that can make it hard for providers to find people to live in their housing.

Members explained that some providers don’t let participants use other providers for SDA supports.

Some providers also keep track of who visits participants.

This makes participants unhappy.

Members worry that some participants don’t have choice and control over who they live with in SDA.

Reference Group members shared that some people with disability find it hard to find a home that meets what they need.

This includes people with disability who leave the justice system.

Our justice system includes:

• prisons
• the courts
• police
• the law.

Members explained that the NDIA should work with the health system to support people with disability.

For example, they should work together to support people with disability in palliative care.

Palliative care is a support for when you are near the end of your life.

You use palliative care when you have an illness that:

• will get worse
• will last the rest of your life.

Members also explained that the NDIA should support the Australian Government to improve laws about Special Disability Trusts.

Special Disability Trusts are set up by the family of a person with disability who needs a lot of support.

They put money into the trust to help pay for future:

• care

• housing.

The Australian Government should improve laws about Special Disability Trusts to support the current cost of housing.

Members shared that some guardians chosen by the government don’t include people with disability in the decisions they make.

A guardian is a person who acts and makes decisions for you.

Your guardian might be:

• a member of your family
• a friend
• chosen for you by the government.