The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to strengthen the disability ecosystem and improve the availability of supports outside the NDIS, with consultations around the design of Foundational Supports commencing this month.
Public consultation with people with lived experience and their families and carers, disability organisations, along with the broader sector will help to inform the design of what additional supports for people with disability outside of the NDIS should look like and how they can best be delivered in the future.
These supports will be jointly designed and funded by Commonwealth, state and territory governments, consistent with decisions of National Cabinet in December 2023.
Foundational Supports will include general foundational supports available to all people with disability, as well as "targeted" foundational supports.
Our first stage of consultation will be focused on a range of general supports that will be designed and delivered to meet the needs of people with disability and families and carers, including information and capacity building supports that will be available to all people with disability aged under 65.
General supports will include things like trusted information and guidance, peer supports and capacity building that help people and their families to engage in the community and to advocate for - and make decisions about - matters that affect them.
Targeted supports for specific groups will be the focus of later stages of consultation.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth said all governments are committed to ensuring people with disability, their families and the sector have the opportunity to contribute to the design and implementation of supports outside the NDIS.
"There are 5.5 million Australians with disability and we want to ensure we have the systems and supports in place to ensure they can fully participate and be included in society. Foundational Supports is a key part of this journey," Minister Rishworth said.
"For these supports to be effective they must be shaped by the experiences, insights and voices of Australians with disability and their families.
"I encourage all people with disability, their families and supporters to share your ideas, so we can ensure these additional supports reflect the real and current needs of people with disability."
The first stage of consultations covering general foundational supports that deliver information and capacity building assistance will commence from the second half of September.
People will be able to engage in a variety of ways, including through webinars, online questionnaires, written submissions, and in-person events to be held across Australia.
Consultation on targeted supports for specific groups will start in October and continue over several months.
The Department of Social Services has engaged communications supplier The Social Deck to support consultation activities, including accessible ways to participate.
People can find out more about how they can get involved by visiting the DSS Engage website.
