Over the past seven years, the NDIS workforce has more than doubled. Today some 325,000 workers across a diverse range of occupations and settings support NDIS participants, their families and carers. The essential care and support provided by these workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been critical.

The strain of the past few years has no doubt been felt by many NDIS workers. This strain, however, goes beyond the impacts of the pandemic to the key challenges facing the NDIS workforce. Many NDIS workers are feeling burnt out. Jobs can be short term with high turnover, with poor conditions and poor career prospects. Workers appear to be leaving NDIS jobs at a faster rate compared to the wider economy. Providers report difficulty finding and keeping skilled and capable workers to effectively support participants.

These issues are further compounded for First Nations and remote communities. As the scheme matures, there is mounting pressure to attract more workers. Within the next three years to June 2025, an additional 128,000 workers will be needed to fully meet demand.

This issues paper examines the efforts needed to improve worker attraction and retention in the NDIS.