More than 610,000 Australians are now receiving life-changing disability supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Data outlined in the latest Quarterly Report highlights significant progress by participants, their families, carers and wider disability networks since the Scheme's inception.
This includes more participants experiencing increased choice and control, opportunities to participate and engage in their communities and workplaces, make friends and spend their time as they choose.
The latest Quarterly Report shows significant progress for participants over their time in the Scheme including:
- 77% of participants aged over 15 years reported the NDIS has helped with choice and control- a relative increase of 15%.
- 42% of participants aged over 15 years reported increased participation in community and social activities - a relative increase of 20%.
- Participation in work has doubled from 11% to 22% for participants aged 15 to 24.
- An average of 27 days between a NDIS participant being medically ready for discharge and being discharged in the June 2023 quarter, significantly down on last year.
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) CEO Rebecca Falkingham said the NDIS continued to have a positive impact on the lives of Australians living with disability - but acknowledged there was more to do.
"The NDIA understands the best way to further improve the Scheme and participant outcomes is to listen to people with lived experience of disability and first-hand experience of the NDIS," Ms Falkingham said.
"As the NDIS moves into its next decade, the Agency is co-designing key initiatives to improve the Scheme, including those outlined in the Federal Budget, with participants and the disability sector.
"I'm particularly proud of our partnership with First Peoples Disability Network to co-design a new First Nations Strategy and action plan, outlined in the Quarterly Report.
"With 9.9% of new participants identifying as First Nations people this quarter, co-design ensures our Strategy is culturally appropriate, promotes self-advocacy and reflects the goals and hopes of First Nations people with disability.
"The Agency is working hard to deliver a Scheme that reflects the original vision of the disability community, a world-leading, impactful and sustainable Scheme.
"The right disability supports make a world of difference and this data is evidence the NDIS can make a positive impact in the lives of participants, their families and carers."
The latest Quarterly Report can be viewed here.
