More than 484,000 Australians now supported by the NDIS 

The latest quarterly report for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) demonstrates the increased efforts to build a better NDIS for participants and their families and carers. 

National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) CEO Martin Hoffman said the latest report shows the Scheme’s progress, successes and challenges during a time when the nation is working to emerge from COVID-19.

“I’m pleased today’s report shows the NDIS is supporting 484,700 participants, with more than half of whom hadn’t received support before the NDIS,” Mr Hoffman said.

“In the past quarter, we focused our efforts on supporting participants and disability workers to get vaccinated, and to ensure participants continue to receive essential services.”

While working through the pandemic like the rest of the country, the NDIA also worked to progress a co-design approach for making a better NDIS.

“We held virtual workshops with the Independent Advisory Council (IAC), key disability and community stakeholders, and the Department of Social Services to develop a constructive working relationship which will be invaluable to the Scheme.

“The workshop facilitated discussions about how to establish a co-design framework and the priorities ahead. Following the workshop, leaders from the IAC and disability and carer representative organisations formed a Co-design Advisory Group.”

The Co-design Advisory Group will shape the path for the NDIA to build positive relationships with the wider disability sector, help participants to achieve their goals and will provide opportunities to work together to better understand the issues the Scheme is facing, including financial sustainability.

Today’s report includes further information promoting financial transparency around the Scheme, including an analysis on trends in median as well as average payments and plan budgets, and the distribution of plan budget changes following plan reviews.

The report also notes that the 2021 Annual Financial Sustainability Report was released publicly in full early in October setting out the assumptions behind cost projections, and detailed scenario analyses.

“Although the report shows there is work we need to do to maintain the financial sustainability of the Scheme, we are confident the co-design approach means the NDIS will be shaped by the communities it serves and supports.”

“Working closely with participants and their families and carers, the disability sector, and other governments means the NDIS will be here for generations to come.”

Other key statistics include:

  • 38 per cent of participants who received plans were children aged under 7 years.
  • 95 per cent of parents and carers thought the NDIS improved their child’s development at their most recent plan review.
  • 68 per cent decrease in the number of people under the age of 65 entering residential aged care from March 2018 compared to 30 June 2021.
  • Nine percentage point increase for participants aged 15-24 years gaining employment.

The report also shows that the NDIA continues to improve on its Participant Service Guarantee, with the latest report showing:

  • 100 per cent of access decisions were made within 21 days.
  • 100 per cent of planning implementation meetings were held after a participant accepts a plan within 28 days.
  • 89 per cent of interval reviews of a reviewable decision after a request is received were made within 60 days.