IAC meeting bulletin, 3-4 July 2024
The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its 4 Reference Groups met in Melbourne on 3-4 July 2024. This is the first time the IAC and its Reference Groups have held a joint forum.
The two-day summit and important planning event allowed the IAC and its Reference Groups to deliberate on its Work Plan for 2024-25. The Work Plan will include providing advice to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Board on priority work to improve the NDIS.
Discussions also included the current NDIS landscape, future priorities, and other disability sector updates from across Australia.
Updates on the current NDIS landscape
Members acknowledged the significant change period for the IAC and wider disability community, who are awaiting the Government’s response to the Independent Review of the NDIS (NDIS Review) and Disability Royal Commission, and proposed NDIS legislative reforms. There was recognition that genuine inclusion of the voice of people with disability is the centrepiece of successful change management, and that the IAC and its Reference Groups are representatives of this collective voice.
Mr Kurt Fearnley AO, NDIA Board Chair, and Mrs Joan McKenna Kerr, NDIA Board Member, spoke to the Board being deeply committed to ensuring the voice of people with disability is a part of everything the NDIA does and acknowledged the significant reform agenda ahead.
Mr Scott McNaughton, NDIA Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) spoke to the NDIA’s commitment to ensuring the day-to-day work of the Agency stays on track while organising and preparing teams to respond to work from proposed legislative reforms and the Government response to the NDIS Review. The NDIA is committed to transparency with the community about initiatives and change programs they can co-design together.
Members acknowledged the vital role that disability representative and carer organisations (DRCO) also play in bringing the voice of the disability community and participants to the NDIA. Mr Jeff Smith, Disability Advocacy Network Alliance (DANA) CEO, presented at the summit about role that DRCOs play in partnering with the NDIA to co-design important reforms.
Actioning the IAC’s Work Plan 2024-25
Group discussions focused on actioning the IAC’s 2024-25 Work Plan, which sets out priorities and advisory work for the financial year ahead.
The Work Plan will focus on 7 broad themes for priority work and members agreed to elevate intersectionality across all IAC work. The group agreed that key recommendations from the NDIS Review, including navigators, foundational supports, home and living supports, and justice supports, should be a focal point of IAC’s future priority work.
More information on the IAC
The IAC will next meet on 15 August 2024. IAC Reference Groups will next meet as follows:
Home and Living Reference Group - 7 August 2024
Equity and Inclusion Reference Group - 28 August 2024
Children, Young People and Families Reference Group - 25 September 2024
Intellectual Disability Reference Group - 13-14 November 2024.
Find out more about IAC meetings and bulletins at the IAC website.
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