The NDIS Alternative Commissioning Pilots in remote and First Nations communities were first announced in 2023 to:

• improve the availability of services and supports
• deliver services and supports that better meet communities’ needs
• continue to build the evidence base for alternative commissioning approaches. 

The aim of the pilots was to co-design, implement and evaluate place-based, community-driven alternative commissioning models in partnership with Communities in two sites to ensure they are underpinned by an understanding of community strengths and preferences. The trial sites were Maningrida in the Northern Territory and Katanning in Western Australia, including the towns and their surrounding areas. 

An independent evaluation of the pilots in both sites was undertaken over the period July 2024 to June 2025. This report contains the findings of the evaluation to support the future development and scaling up of alternative commissioning. The evaluation methodology brings together the principles of best practice utilisation-focused process and outcome evaluation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander evaluation principles to generate a robust, flexible and culturally safe approach. 

Key findings

• Co-design and shared decision-making were limited.
• Cultural safety must be built in from the start.
• Thin markets are only part of the access problem.
• Travel costs and FIFO (fly in fly out)/DIDO (drive in drive out) models can reduce value for money.
• Local workforce and navigator roles are critical. 

The report makes 10 overall recommendations.