The NDIA recently announced a reset of its co-design approach, following feedback from Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCOs) — including DANA — that the process wasn’t hitting the mark.

Advocates raised concerns that the previous co-design structure wasn’t prioritising key areas like planning and navigation, wasn’t meaningfully engaging with the community, and that reforms in some areas were moving too quickly without enough detail.

In response, the NDIA has streamlined its co-design groups from seven to four, focusing first on the most critical building blocks of the new NDIS framework. The four new groups are:

• • Assessments and plan budgets

• • The participant pathway

• • Participant safeguarding

• • Navigators

These groups will now focus more squarely on developing real policy solutions and shaping the new planning framework. Each will also have a senior NDIA representative involved, to help ensure progress stays on track.

Some other groups — including Home and Living and Workforce Capability — will pause until the next phase of reform.

DANA continues to represent independent advocacy in this process, with our Policy Officer Liam participating in the Navigator co-design group. All groups will still include representatives from people with disability, DRCOs, and the Independent Advisory Council.

We welcome the NDIA’s willingness to listen and improve the process. DANA will continue to monitor and contribute, and we’ll keep our members and the sector updated as things evolve. If you’d like to discuss any of these changes, you’re always welcome to get in touch with us.

We’ll also share more in an upcoming DANA Member event. And with the NDIA aiming to roll out the new framework plans from September, we expect to see further developments soon — particularly around needs assessments, navigators, and clearer definitions of what counts as ‘NDIS supports.’

Music and Art Therapy: Still Waiting on Answers

Another live issue is the future of Music and Art Therapy within the NDIS.

Late last year, the NDIA faced significant criticism for abruptly announcing that these therapies would no longer be funded at the original therapy rates. After strong criticism from the community, the NDIA backed down and commissioned an independent review, led by Dr Stephen Duckett, to consider how these supports fit within the scheme.

DANA joined other organisations, including a statement from Women with Disability Australia, supporting access to these therapies. We also highlighted the disproportionate impact that cutting these supports would have on women, gender-diverse people, and other marginalised groups.

The NDIA received a copy of that report last week, but has yet to release its findings. The Agency will review the report internally and make decisions later this year about how these therapies will be funded.

While it’s not unusual for government processes to take time, the lack of transparency is frustrating. A genuine commitment to co-design would see the NDIA sharing the report’s recommendations with the community and working together to develop updated operational guidelines.

DANA will continue to track this closely and share updates as the process unfolds in the coming weeks.