On the 7th of December 2023, the final report from the independent review of the NDIS was released by the Minister for the NDIS, the Hon Bill Shorten MP.

What is the NDIS?

The NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and is a national program that provides funding for people living with disability in Australia. People with disabilities can apply for funding for various supports to ensure that they can actively participate in society and enhance their quality of life. This can include things like mobility equipment, home modifications for accessibility and support in fulfilling household tasks. 

What is the NDIS Review?

In October of 2022, the Minister for the NDIS called for an independent review of the NDIS, meaning that the processes, systems, operations and sustainability of the scheme, as well as the current market and workforce, would be investigated by a panel external from the government.

People with disabilities and disability organisations provided submissions to the review panel with their recommendations for the NDIS, based on lived experience and consultations. 

The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) contributed a submission to the review, and easyread.tech was responsible for developing the document into both Easy Read and Plain English formats. 

What does the review recommend? 

The final report of the review includes 26 recommendations and 139 supporting actions for the National Disability Insurance Agency (the NDIA, the agency that implements the NDIS), the Australian Government and government departments, National Cabinet (comprising of the Prime Minister and all state and territory premiers and chief ministers), and other ministerial/government bodies to consider in the new year. 

You can read all of the recommendations on the official NDIS review website, and an Easy Read version can be found here. 

Recommendation 5 of the review states that more should be done to provide better support for people with disability to make decisions about their lives. The final report mentions that the right to individual autonomy and to make independent choices are enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and is an important aspect of the NDIS in ensuring people with disability can be involved in the decision-making process regarding the supports they receive. 

The review acknowledges, however, that many people with disabilities could benefit from additional support in decision-making and appropriate resources that can support them to make informed decisions. The report recognises that many NDIS participants and people with disabilities in Australia have cognitive disabilities, and in the contemporary NDIS landscape, they may be afforded limited opportunities to be involved in planning or decisions about the services that they receive.

The review recommends that the NDIA develop accessible information and tailored advice to support informed decision-making. It also recommends that people who support people with disabilities (i.e., carers, parents, family members) have appropriate access to information to facilitate supported decision-making and understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to supported decision-making. 

Additionally, recommendation 10 in the review advocates for improved digital information systems to ensure participants and their support network can access accessible, timely and reliable information. The recommended action directs the government to develop and fund an easy-to-use, centralised online platform that shares information on all locally available supports and services.

This demonstrates the necessity for online information and technological resources and systems to be developed with accessibility at the forefront, in order to support the diverse needs of persons with disabilities. We at easyread.tech believe that this should extend to downloadable documents housed on a public website and should ideally be made available in accessible formats, which may include Plain English, Easy Read and other accessible multimedia formats.

NEDA, in their submission, advised that the website was a crucial hub for information for people with disabilities, and emphasised the importance of updating the site regularly and correcting any incorrect information.

What’s next for the NDIS?

Now that the report has been released, it is up to state and federal governments to consider the recommendations. Expect to see some legislative recommendations put forth by the review start to go through parliament early next year. The full response from the federal government will be released in 2024.

Until then, the NDIA has stated that they will continue to consult with people with disabilities and advocacy bodies regarding the future of the NDIS.

National Cabinet met on the 6th of December 2023 to negotiate a deal that sees states and territories fund additional supports outside of the NDIS program, and contribute more to the national scheme in line with its growth. 

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