Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS Review)
The NDIS Review commenced in October 2022. It examined the design, operation and sustainability of the scheme, and ways to build a more responsive, supportive and sustainable market and workforce.
NDIS Review Final Report
On 7 December 2023, the NDIS Review final report was released.
The NDIS Review final report makes 26 recommendations with 139 supporting actions to improve the NDIS within the broader disability ecosystem. The recommendations and actions are directed to all governments and National Cabinet.
Three key areas of reform were identified:
- development of a unified system of supports for all people with disability, including foundational supports outside the NDIS and inclusive mainstream services coordinated with the NDIS
- reforms to NDIS market and support systems to improve their functioning and quality
- a new stewardship model for the unified ecosystem, with clear governance and accountability responsibilities.
Queensland Response to the NDIS Review
The Queensland Government welcomed the release of the NDIS Review final report.
In July 2024, the Queensland Government released the Queensland Disability Reform Framework – The Next Chapter to provide a cohesive approach to disability reform, including the initial response to the NDIS Review and Queensland’s response to the Disability Royal Commission final report.
National Response to the NDIS Review
As an initial response to the NDIS Review, on 6 December 2023, National Cabinet agreed to work together to:
- implement legislative and other changes to the NDIS to improve the experience of participants and restore the original intent of the Scheme to support people with permanent and significant disability, within a broader ecosystem of supports
- jointly design additional foundational supports to be jointly commissioned by the Commonwealth and the states
- adjust state and territory NDIS contribution escalation rates, commencing from 1 July 2028.
In March 2024, all governments (through the Joint Statement on Australian, State and Territory responses to the Disability Royal Commission) acknowledged the intersections between the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission final reports.
In June 2024, the Disability Reform Ministerial Council agreed to develop a joint NDIS Review Response by the end of the year.
The Commonwealth Government is progressing NDIS reforms in response to the NDIS Review.
Queensland Government submission to the NDIS Review
The Queensland Government made a submission to the NDIS Review that sets out its key concerns with the operation of NDIS.
These included that it is difficult for people to access the NDIS, the quality of the NDIS planning process is inconsistent, the interface between the NDIS and mainstream services such as health, education and transport is unclear, and there are too few NDIS services and workers in some locations.
The submission puts forward that the NDIS needs to be more focused on outcomes for participants, and needs better governance that places the views of people with disability at the centre. The submission was informed by the views of Queenslanders with disability and disability organisations.
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