The National Mental Health Sector Reference Group (NMHSRG) met online on 13 June 2024 for their third meeting of the year.
The Chairperson opened the meeting with an acknowledgement of lived experience and its importance to the work of this group.
Members recognised the commitment and significant contributions Bill Gye has made to the group during his tenure as member.
Focus of the meeting
The meeting covered:
- Feedback from the first meeting of the NMHSRG Lived Experience Sub-Group.
- A report from the Scheme Actuary on data and insights for participants with psychosocial disability for the second quarter of 2023-2024.
- The draft work plan for the Psychosocial Initiative.
- Psychosocial research initiatives being led by Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry and the Evidence and Practice Leadership Branch of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Report from the Scheme Actuary
David Gifford, NDIA Scheme Actuary provided members with data and insights for participants with psychosocial disability for the second quarter of 2023-2024.
Members were interested in:
- The rate of appeals for access decisions at reassessment phase.
- Gaining a better understanding of what happens when people do not meet access to the NDIS.
- The average use (payments) of psychosocial recovery coach funding per participant over a year.
Psychosocial Initiative Work Plan
Members provided feedback on the importance of consulting and engaging widely, across the community and especially with Lived Experience groups.
NMHSRG Lived Experience Sub-Group
Representatives of the group reported key feedback from their first meeting, including the importance of the NDIA implementing reforms for psychosocial participants and continuing the co-design process underway.
Research Initiatives Showcase
The group was grateful to Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry who provided an overview of a five-year research initiative, 'Fixing the NDIS: cost, effectiveness and access for psychosocial disability'.
NMHSRG Next Meeting
The next meetings of the National Mental Health Sector Reference Group and Lived Experience Sub-Group will be held online on Thursday 19 September 2024.
