Lifely stands up for country Australia in NDIS Joint Standing Committee inquiry

The Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has released its final report on the experience of participants in rural, regional and remote Australia.

The findings highlight what many people already know. Access is uneven, the workforce is stretched, and service models do not always match the needs of regional communities.

Lifely was proud to make a submission to the inquiry. Our Chief Executive Officer, Janette Martin, also presented to the committee when it visited Bendigo. We welcomed the chance to speak about the barriers faced by regional communities and the solutions that local organisations know will work.

What the report found about the NDIS in country Australia

The committee recognised that the NDIS has changed lives across Australia. However, it also heard many stories about thin markets, a shortage of workers, cultural barriers and complex paperwork that make it harder for people outside cities to get the support they need.

The Committee made ten recommendations.

• The NDIS application process should be easier and supported by clear, accessible guides for regional and remote communities.
• NDIS staff should receive training that builds disability knowledge, cultural awareness and better ways to support people in regional and remote areas.
• Government and health services should work together so people in regional and remote areas can see doctors and allied health workers more quickly.
• More incentives and training are needed to attract and keep health and NDIS workers in regional and remote communities.
• The NDIS should offer more flexible travel supports for people who live in remote and very remote places.
• Extra cultural safety training should be provided for NDIS staff working with First Nations people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• First Nations community-controlled organisations should be preferred providers of culturally safe NDIS services.
• NDIS information should be delivered in First Nations languages, with more support for First Nations people to train as interpreters.
• Communication in community languages should improve, and culturally diverse providers should be better supported in regional and remote areas.
• Successful local commissioning trials should be reviewed and expanded in close partnership with First Nations communities.

These ideas match what Lifely shared in our submission. We called for strong investment in the workforce, pricing that reflects the true cost of regional service delivery, and better support for people who need help navigating the system. We also stressed that community voices must be part of every stage of design and decision making.

Why the NDIS matters for country Australians

The report confirms that locally led services, fair pricing and long-term workforce solutions are essential for a strong and reliable NDIS. It also shows that regional communities deserve a system that understands their needs instead of fitting them into metro-based models.

We welcome the committee’s focus on these issues. Real change will only occur when the people who use and deliver services in regional areas are part of shaping solutions for country Australia.

What comes next for the NDIS in country Australia

The government will now consider its response. Lifely will continue to speak up for practical reforms that make the NDIS fairer and easier to access for people across regional Victoria.

NDS has stated that it will keep members informed through further updates, submissions and events. It will also continue to engage with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the NDIA and Parliament.

NDIS Participant Experience in Rural, Regional and Remote Australia Report