Co-designing reform

Update on our co-design approach

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has heard feedback from the disability community and sector about the need to focus co-design efforts on the most critical reforms to the NDIS, to allow more time and involve more people in consultation and engagement on changes to the Scheme. We have heard that stakeholders feel overwhelmed by the speed and volume of work underway. This feedback has been received from:

Disability and Carer Representative Organisations
Independent Advisory Council
Participants in focus groups
Members of our co-design groups.

To address this, we have realigned the current co-design work program, effective from 31 March 2025, to focus on priority reforms. We have worked with disability representatives to reset the co-design program. This will allow us to spend more time, hearing from more people, about the things that are very important for us to focus on now and reflects the further work on the development of stages of reform (horizons) for the new planning pathway. To help us develop and deliver this work together, we will focus on four co-design working groups:

Assessments and Budgeting
Navigators
Participant Pathway Experience
Participant Safeguarding

Co-design groups working on these areas will continue.

Other co-design groups will pause until the next phase of reform. These include:

Home and living
Integrity
Workforce capability

Ongoing engagement

We will continue to consult and engage on all other topics through:

Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCO) Forum
Independent Advisory Council (IAC) and its reference groups
NDIA reference and advisory groups
Expert and participant workshops
Participant First

This will include more opportunities for participants, their families, carers, and supporters to get involved.

We’re committed to being honest, listening to feedback, and making sure the work we do leads to real improvements for people with disability.

This reset is about focusing on what matters, learning from the community, and working together to make the NDIS better for everyone.

For more information:

Changes to Co-design Working Groups (DOCX 294KB)

Co-designing reform

The Australian Government has outlined reforms to the NDIS that will ensure a better experience for participants and make sure the Scheme is there for the future.

The NDIA is committed to working in partnership with people with disability, their families, advocates, and the broader disability community to build a stronger National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

In June 2024, we released the shared statement on co-design, in partnership with the Department of Social Services (DSS), NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (Q&SC), Independent Advisory Council (IAC) and Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCOs).

Participate

The NDIA and DRCOs communicate opportunities to get involved in co-design working groups and other opportunities.

The NDIA publishes opportunities to get involved in co-design and engagement at Have Your Say.

Co-design and feedback opportunities are also advertised through the NDIA Participant First Engagement Initiative.

Through initiatives like Participant First, you can help us make the NDIS stronger.

Participants, family members and carers will be paid for participating in accordance with our Participant Engagement Payment Policy.

DRCOs advertise NDIS co-design and engagement opportunities through their own channels

Working Together

Working Together is our new bulletin about all things co-design at the NDIA.

Working Together First Edition – June 2025

Quarterly Reform Forum

The IAC and DRCOs hold a joint meeting quarterly to discuss and report on the progress of co-design projects. 

A summary of the meetings can be found below:

The approach

We want people who are impacted by NDIS processes or decisions to be involved in how those processes are designed and implemented, and how decisions are made.

The co-design approach ensures that the lived experience of people with disability and their families are at the centre of the way NDIS reforms are designed, implemented and monitored.

This approach shapes how we will go about engaging and co-designing with people with disability to deliver NDIS reform.

How we co-design and engage

The NDIA is committed to a robust and diverse program of co-design and engagement to ensure changes to the NDIS are informed by the voices of people with disability, their families and carers.

We use various co-design, consultation and engagement activities to reach participants, families, carers and supporters, as well as the public.

This ranges from engaging with peak bodies and sector representatives, having co-design workshops with participants, family members and carers, to surveys open to the public and people with disability.

The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) represents the participants’ voice in the NDIS. Under the NDIS Act 2013, the IAC has a statutory function to advise the NDIA Board on the most important issues affecting participants, carers and families.

Their advice aims to improve the Scheme, participant experience and outcomes.

We work closely with 27 Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCOs). These DRCOs work with the NDIA on reforms, changes and improvements to the NDIS.

The full DRCO Forum meets quarterly to discuss Scheme improvements and experiences of participants across Australia.

The NDIA works with 15 reference and advisory groups on key topics.

Members of these groups are experts in their field, disability and carer representative organisations, and relevant government representatives.

They provide strategic advice to the NDIA about their field of expertise.

These groups also often help the NDIA shape its co-design and engagement approach for reforms in their area.

Our co-design principles

We are committed to working with the Australian disability community based on the following principles.

This means we are honest about how we work together.

We are clear about what the activity will be and how it will help improve the NDIS.

We are clear about timelines and honest about decisions that have already been made.

We are accountable for delivering improvements to the NDIS and providing regular updates on progress.

We actively listen to and are guided by the disability community, as well as culturally and linguistically diverse communities and First Nations communities.

We use feedback, advice, knowledge, and experience of the disability community. We are honest and open about any constraints and outcomes.

We undertake co-design processes and don’t jump to solutions.

We complete evaluations, seek feedback, and learn from each co-design process.

We continue to build the knowledge of NDIA staff about co-design and implement continuous improvement.

We continue to identify new and emerging topics for co-design.

We talk to people early and ensure co-design is not rushed.

We make time for people to take part in a way that works for them.

We ensure diversity by including people with different lived experiences.

We make sure the way we work with people is accessible and inclusive.

We ask for and use advice to ensure we work with people in ways that are culturally safe and respectful.

We enable co-design groups and participants to make decisions, prioritise and organise their work

Co-design Evaluation

In 2023, the NDIA commissioned an independent review of the NDIA's co-design work. The review looked at what worked, what did not work, and any lessons for future processes. You can read the report and the Agency’s supporting statement on the Co-design Evaluation webpage.

Contact

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Co-designing reform

On this page:

Update on our co-design approach

Ongoing engagement

Co-designing reform

Participate

Working Together

Quarterly Reform Forum