This report presents the views of People With Disability Australia (PWDA) members and has been developed in the context of proposed changes and the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

This report explicitly responds to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Exposure Draft of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No.1) Bill 2024 and the ongoing work of the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce.

PWDA has extensively engaged with its national membership to help shape its responses. 259 responses are represented in this report as well as consultations with 61 people from the disability community. The insights and information contained in this report provides further guidance in the ongoing conversations about the NDIS.

Key insights

Insight 1 – Two in three (66%) members believe the NDIA should have visibility of who provides services under the NDIS.

Insight 2 – Overall, the majority (56%) of members believe all NDIS service providers should not be registered. This rises to 63% of NDIS participants.

Insight 3 – 81% of NDIS participants want the ability to screen NDIS providers and workers themselves. 

Insight 4 – 65% of members (including 69% of NDIS participants) said they would know what to do if they had safety concerns about a service provider or worker.

Insight 5 – Members are clearly concerned about the potential loss of access to services or supports as a result of the proposed changes to NDIS service provider registration.

Insight 6 – Members in the consultations identified funding for advocacy supports as a gap in the proposed Bill. 

Insight 7 – Members are unclear on how long a reform process should take.

Insight 8 – Almost half (49%) of members believe there are situations where the NDIA should cancel someone’s plan or decide how that plan is managed.

Insight 9 – Members commonly believe that NDIS funds should be able to be used on proposed ineligible items.

Insight 10 – Almost all (96%) members believe that people should be able to have NDIA decisions reviewed.

Insight 11 – Almost half of members disagreed with the change to needs-based funding.

Insight 12 – Just over half of both members (56%) and NDIS participants (55%) support the proposal to extend NDIS plan to a five-year timeframe.

Insight 13 – A very large majority (87%) of members believe NDIS plan budgets should increase in line with CPI.

Insight 14 – When being assessed, participants believe the following are important for the NDIA to know: 

• Understand the individual, including their life previous to disability, their personal circumstances and goals. Understand the capacity and needs can fluctuate. 
• Review and believe the evidence provided by health professionals or participants themselves. 
• Understand and accommodate barriers to access such as language or finances. 
• Understand the wider implications of disability, especially on families and caregivers. 
• Understand the need for stability of supports for people with disability.

Insight 15 – Members unanimously disagree with the proposed changes to Housing and Living Supports.