Key Updates and Changes for Q1 2024 (July - Sept)
As you may have seen the NDIS just released its latest quarterly data for the July - September quarter. The Disability Events Community (The DEC) is here to provide you with a summary guide to some of the key takeaways from the report, including significant updates on participant engagement, operational improvements, and emerging trends. Here’s a look at the key highlights, changes, and insights.
Legislative Advances:
NDIS Act Amendment for Improved Participant Experience
A key development this quarter was the passage of the NDIS Amendment Bill 2024, with new measures focused on enhancing participant experiences and protecting funding integrity. Key areas of change include:
Clearer Definitions of Supports - Ensuring participants and providers understand allowable plan uses.
Increased Emphasis on Choice and Control - Supporting participant autonomy in decision-making with added resources for effective plan usage.
This amendment forms part of a broader effort toward a more participant-focused framework, with additional updates expected in 2025.
Key Participant Data:
Growing Community Involvement and Employment Rates
The report reveals significant participant growth, with 680,123 active participants at the end of September 2024, a 2.9% increase from the previous quarter.
Participant Outcomes:
Social and Community Involvement - Notable increases in community and social engagement, particularly for participants aged 15-24, where activity rates climbed from 34% to 40%.
Employment rates doubled for participants aged 15-24, reaching 22%, while older age groups saw either stable or slightly declining employment rates.
State-by-State Growth:
Highest Growth: Western Australia led the increase in participant numbers, with an 3.61% rise from the last quarter, while Victoria followed closely with a 3% increase and 2.85% in Queensland
Lowest Growth: Australian Capital Territory saw the lowest growth quarter-on-quarter at 1.93%, followed by South Australia at 2.47% highlighting potential areas for additional outreach and support.
Financial Health of the Scheme: Assessing Sustainability
The NDIS report indicates a projected total scheme expense of $210.3 billion over the next four years, a $1 billion reduction from prior forecasts. While this adjustment reflects progress, it underscores the need for sustained and efficient resource management to maintain financial stability.
Specific Q1 financial metrics include:
- Stabilised Expenditure Growth: Total scheme expenses for the quarter were $11.5 billion, slightly below projections.
- Controlled Plan Inflation: While plan inflation increased slightly to 12.8%, efforts to control growth have shown progress compared to prior periods.
Increased Front-Line Support to Improve Participant Services
To enhance participant experiences and reduce delays, the NDIA onboarded over 500 new front-line staff this quarter. This increase has led to substantial improvements in service delivery, particularly in processing times for access decisions and plan reassessments.
Enhanced Plan Management and Reassessment Activity
The NDIA completed 61,767 plan reassessments this quarter, rising from 55,756 in the previous quarter. This increase reflects the agency’s commitment to regularly updating plans to meet participants' evolving needs.
Additionally, plan change requests surged to up to 5,000 per week, marking a 40% increase from the same period last year. This trend indicates a growing demand for plan flexibility and adaptability among participants, along with being a by product of increased plan extensions.
Expanded Support for First Nations and CALD Participants
With 8% of participants identifying as First Nations, the NDIS has committed to a First Nations Strategy by early 2025, alongside expanded outreach to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. This includes:
Face-to-Face Support in Remote Areas - Increased in-person assistance through remote community connectors and local NDIA staff visits.
Cultural Competency Initiatives - Enhanced training for NDIA staff and advisory groups to promote culturally respectful and responsive care.
Strengthened Support Systems and Participant Services
The NDIA is actively enhancing support systems across multiple areas to better serve participants, including:
- Faster Access and Reassessments - This quarter saw a 50% increase in access decisions and a near 80% rise in first plan approvals compared to the previous quarter.
- Proactive Financial Guidance - The NDIA introduced support for participants at risk of overspending by providing personalised plan management assistance, which received positive feedback from 90% of participants.
Conclusion: Progress Toward a More Accessible and Responsive NDIS
The Q1 2024-25 report outlines key steps toward improving the sustainability, inclusivity, and responsiveness of the NDIS. With more front-line staff, increased reassessment capacity, and enhanced community engagement, these changes aim to create a more user-centered experience. However, the evolving financial landscape signals an ongoing need for cautious, adaptive management as the scheme grows.
Links to the NDIS reports: https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/publications/quarterly-reports
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