This mixed-methods project aimed to better understand how and why NDIS plan utilisation rates may vary amongst Victorian NDIS participants. what helps, and what makes it hard for Victorian NDIS participants to use their NDIS funds to meet their needs and aspirations.

The quantitative part of this project looked at how and why utilisation rates varied amongst Victorian NDIS participants by examining:

• Inequities in plan size and spending amongst groups of participants already identified as experiencing disadvantage in the scheme. These groups included First Nations participants, participants from a Culturally or Linguistically Diverse background and participants with a psychosocial disability
• The impact of remoteness on plan size and spending
• The impact of prior experience of disability services on plan size and spending

The qualitative part of this project interviewed more than 100 NDIS participants and plan nominees between April and December 2020, to understand their perspectives on what helps, and what makes it hard to use NDIS plans in a way that meets needs and aspirations. The researchers focused on groups of participants that were reported to experience more difficulties navigating the complexity of the NDIS. This included participants with psychosocial disability, participants who identify as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and participants who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations).