The purpose of this communique is to detail the key outcomes of the Co-design Advisory Group’s 18th meeting, which took place Monday 1 May 2023.
The primary purpose of the Co-design Advisory Group is for the Independent Advisory Council (IAC), Department of Social Services (DSS) and the disability sector to provide strategic advice to the NDIA on the development, focus and implementation of co-design and engagement processes within the disability community.
The Co-design Advisory Group works collaboratively to:
- ensure disability community perspectives on issues facing the NDIS are represented
- gather feedback on the co-design priorities and approaches with peers and members and
- provide and receive strategic advice on the design, implementation and evaluation of co-design and engagement
The following members and NDIA representatives were in attendance.
Chairperson
- Shannon Rees, A/g General Manager, Communications and Engagement
Members
- Dwayne Cranfield, CEO, National Ethnic Disability Alliance
- Skye Kakoschke-Moore, CEO, Children and Young People with Disability Australia
- Catherine McAlpine, CEO, Inclusion Australia
- Ross Joyce, CEO, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
- Sharon Boyce, IAC
- Leighton Jay, IAC
- Leah Van Poppel, IAC
- Julie Yeend, DSS
NDIA representatives
- Corri McKenzie, Deputy CEO, Service Design & Improvement
- Shannon Rees, A/g General Manager, Communications and Engagement
- Jamie Lowe, GM Strategy & Priorities
- Liz Callaghan, Branch Manager, Co-design and Engagement
- Jessica Walker, BM Agency Policy
Secretariat
- Matthew Wright, Director, Sector Engagement and Advice
- Kate Judd, Director, Strategy, Communications and Innovation
- Phillip Wakefield, Assistant Director, Sector Engagement and Advice
Apologies
- Sam Bennett, General Manager, Policy, Advice and Research
- Jennifer Cullen, IAC
Meeting summary
Today, members of the Co-design Advisory Group met to discuss the recent announcements from the Australian Government and National Cabinet on ensuring the NDIS is achieving participants outcomes within a financially sustainable framework.
The Co-design Advisory Group acknowledges government concerns related to participant outcomes and scheme costs.
It welcomes the opportunity to work with the NDIA to co-design improvements to the NDIS that can address these concerns and other challenges.
We acknowledge there are many people in the disability community who are worried about what these announcements mean for them and their lives.
The Co-design Advisory Group acknowledges this is an important issue for the disability community and reinforces the need for transparency and partnership to maintain trust.
The NDIA has committed to working with the disability community to address challenges outlined by the Minister and National Cabinet through a considered program of co-design.
We welcome the NDIA’s commitment and look forward to working closely with the Agency to make sure the voice of people with disability are heard through the co-design process.
The program of codesign will be developed in partnership with disability representative organisations and the NDIA's Independent Advisory Council.
We commit to providing regular updates on our work.
If you have any feedback or questions about the CAG, please email [email protected].