Children, Young People and Families Reference Group meeting bulletin, 17 February 2025

The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) Children, Young People and Families Reference Group (Reference Group) met online on 17 February 2025. They discussed:

  • what they have heard in their communities

  • the latest updates on the Children’s Taskforce

  • the NDIA’s efforts to improve access pathways.

Ms Leah van Poppel, IAC Principal Member and IAC member and Reference Group Co-Chair, Dr Sharon Boyce, led the meeting.

What members have heard in their communities

Members raised participants’ concerns about experiencing delays in the processing of their plans. Members acknowledged the Agency has hired extra staff to cope with its backlogs but remain concerned. They reported funding reductions to plans made without participants fully understanding or knowing the reasons behind them. Members suggested funding reductions to plans needs more information and consistency.

The Agency noted it is aware of the current change climate, as well as the stress and anxiety participants feel. It confirmed that co-design is underway. Current co-design is focusing on how to improve the eligibility reassessment process for participants. For example, the Agency extended the timelines for these reassessments at the start of February, from 28 to 90 days.

Members shared reports of delays in early childhood access assessments, and participants getting plans. Once plans are active, members reported some confusion around capacity building and stated supports. Some planners appear to be making a rough calculation of required therapy hours, and plan managers are accepting it, with no room for variations. Members suggested that the roster of supports for young people transitioning to independent living needs greater flexibility.

Members raised concerns about participants who cannot distinguish between impairment notices and eligibility reassessments. Members understand the Agency is working to improve its communications, with webinars for new participants scheduled for February and March.

Update on the Children’s Taskforce

The Agency provided an update on the Children’s Taskforce. In December, the then-Minister approved the Agency to commence the design of, and consultation for early intervention pathways for children up to 9 years old. Co-design is occurring in stages and will involve consultation to develop the full pathway for when a child and their family engages with the NDIA.

Improving access pathways

The Agency said that it is very important to improve the participant experience in accessing pathways and to enhance how people understand them. The Agency is making sure it designs and talks about this work in connection with other parts of a broader reform agenda. The Agency has guided the process by understanding what’s come before, as well as the lessons learnt from the NDIS review.

Members raised concerns that younger people are sometimes unable to access certain documents for proof of identity purposes, which suggests that the Agency’s instructions also need to illustrate how to get the documents, and how to use them.

More information on the Reference Group  

The Children, Young People and Families Reference Group will next meet on Tuesday 3 - Wednesday 4 June 2025. Find out more about IAC and Reference Group meetings and bulletins at the IAC website.