We’ve partnered with Inclusion Australia and the Department of Social Services (DSS) to develop the Supported Decision-Making Hub. The hub is a central source of information on supported decision making. Supported decision making means making sure people have the guidance they need to make informed choices about their goals, supports, and lives. Everyone has the right to make informed decisions about their own life. Supported decision making in the NDIS empowers people with disability to have more control over the things that matter most to them. The Hub has information across twelve key areas, including NDIS supports, employment, health and accommodation. You can watch a video on how to use the hub here. Working with Inclusion Australia and DSS to deliver the Hub is one way we’re delivering our Supported Decision Making policy. We will keep involving people who benefit most from supported decision making in the implementation of this policy. Visit the Hub for more information. https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/sdmhub https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policies/supported-decision-making-policy

When Niki Lea Williams became a below knee amputee from a motor vehicle accident at 19 years old, the NDIS didn't exist. Since Niki made access to the scheme, it has changed her life. And now she is a Community Engagement Officer working for the Agency. Niki's job takes her all over the country to various expos and events representing the NDIS. She resources people, answers questions from the community and helps participants navigate the scheme. Building relationships and giving foundational knowledge to improve the lives of participants nation-wide. Niki believes she's found the best job at the agency - according to her. If you would like to find out about future employment opportunities at the NDIA, please visit https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/careers-ndia for more information. - TRANSCRIPT START - Hi, my name is Niki Lea. I'm from Newcastle, New South Wales. I'm a below knee amputee from a motor vehicle accident when I was 19 years old. As a female, you can imagine cosmetically, mentally, you know, it's a big change. You know, when a girl is 19, you know, you just getting out there in the world. And fast forward a few more years, and here I am working for the NDIS. My role in the agency is a community engagement officer. So part of our role is that we go out to expos. We, you know, do a lot of targeted engagement. I knew I would fit in because of having lived experience. One of the main things I do is resource people and help participants navigate the scheme. We're there for participants, so the more awareness we can raise around fraud and the fraud fusion task force and the participants knowing their rights in that space, the better. One of the other big ticket items is questions around legislation. Some of the work I'm very proud of is doing some collaborations with the remote and very remote team. Helping community and building community’s capacity while we were out there engaging is so rewarding. My brother and I went to a few Lady Gaga concerts, and the thing was, you had to meet her. She picked people out of the audience. So we were like, how are we going to get picked out? My brother looked at me and he said, “You know, you've got to bling one of your legs.” And I was like, “Aw okay”, because I'm very creative. And I was like, this is easy. I got this. So yeah, I managed to get picked out of the audience and met Lady Gaga and she signed my leg, and I've got a couple of photos with her and a couple of autographs, and I know she knows Niki Lea from Australia definitely. My little fangirl moment, and my claim to fame. I'm proud that I've made my family proud, of you know, getting through, such a traumatic time in my life. I've met fantastic people. I've been put into some spaces and events that I never thought I would be in, met people I never thought I would’ve met. I can mentor people. I can guide people. I can give them my first hand experience. I can just be that person to say, hey, I've been through that. You know? It's tough. I myself haven't met many people like me. But, you know, like, it's just you get on and you get on with things. And I suppose that's what I'm most proud of. But, yeah, I've definitely landed the best role in the agency, according to me in community engagement. And it's so rewarding and always exciting and never a dull moment. -TRANSCRIPT END-

In 2004, James Bailey had a motor vehicle accident at the age of 18 years which resulted in an acquired brain injury. For the past 20 years, James has lived in an Aged Care Facility.  Earlier this year, the family were notified of the pending closure of the Aged Care Facility and advised that James would need to find alternative accommodation. This video has been produced by NDIA to explain the family’s journey in finding suitable alternative accommodation. As told through the eyes of the family, it is a frank portrayal of the initial concerns and emotions and the process they followed in securing the perfect home for James. In producing the video, it is the hope of the family and the NDIA that it will serve as a resource and provide valuable insight for other participants considering moving out of aged care and into alternative accommodation.  James is now happy in his new castle where has a lot more choice and control over his life.

- TRANSCRIPT START - Elly Desmarchelier: International Day of People with Disability means to me disability pride. It means being proud of being disabled and I'm so proud to be part of the disability community because it's a community that looks after each other. It's a community that has each other's back. Daniel McDonald: It's crucial for all of our wellbeing, not just in Australia, all over the world. Cameron Bloomfield: Just to be recognised that we have a disability and the accomplishments that some people with disabilities give to the community is like a role model for other people with disabilities. Niki Lea Williams: It's empowering for people to be able to share their stories and, you know, for people to learn from those experiences. Elly Desmarchelier: I love International Day of People with Disability because it's when we all come together and we acknowledge what a strong community we are. - TRANSCRIPT END -

Ben Andrews: I’m Ben Andrews and I work at the Happy Wombat. Welcome to The Happy Wombat, walk on through. Luke Tilse: Look, to see the progress from Ben starting with us to now is just… It’s hard to put into words. It’s just amazing to see, he’s shed weight, he’s fit, he’s confident, he leaves the house and he talks with our customers. He’s cheeky with the other staff, particularly with me. Ben Andrews: Luke is out of control in the morning. Starts singing and dancing… He keeps trying to waltz with me. I think he should stop doing that, but he keeps doing it. Luke Tilse & Ben Andrews: L: Yeah, go on, what have you learnt from me Ben? B: I’m not even going to say. L: You’ve got something to say, mate surely… Learnt how to behave yourself? B: Yeap! Otherwise he swears at me. L: What…? I’m not going to swear at you. B: He does it all the time, in front of customers with me. He whistling, laughing, singing, dancing right beside me. L: Ben pulls me up on my language constantly, when I’m having fun. B: He’s like a troll. Ben Andrews: I work here Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night. We make coffee in the morning, and in the afternoon, I’m pulling beer. That’s my favourite part of the job. Tobi Andrews: When we were growing up, Ben was definitely a mix of things in our family. It did create some challenges in some aspects but you will never meet anyone as loving as Ben, so we’re all very lucky that he’s a part of our family. He rides his bike to work whenever he comes in, he loves that. He actually spends more time here when he’s not working just as much as when he’s working just cause he loves being here. Luke Tilse: Ben’s work ethic is beyond anyone else that I have working for me, including myself. Ben is obsessed with working here. He loves it. He’s given up holidays with his family because – Even though we’ve told him, he can go on holidays. He can go. Both his family and us were like: “Ben, please go and have a lovely holiday”, but he will give that up because he is so desperate to get in here and work. Ben Andrews: I’ve been working at The Happy Wombat for 9 years. I’m really proud to keep this job. Tobi Andrews: The NDIS has had a significant impact on Ben’s life which he’s been involved with for a really long time now. And for Ben it’s just opened up a world full of opportunities in so many parts of his life. Interviewer: Do you hope to stay at The Happy Wombat? Ben Andrews: Yeah, I want to stay at The Happy Wombat because The Happy Wombat is my dream job.

This is a video that demonstrates how users can manage relationships in my NDIS participant portal

If you would like to request a change to your plan, we're here to help. To ensure we can make the best possible decision, it's important to provide clear evidence to support your request. If you don't have all the necessary information, it would be helpful to gather what you need before moving forward with your plan change request. This way, we can work together to make the process as smooth as possible. For more information on changing your NDIS plan go to: https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/changing-your-plan

30 April 2024 The NDIA is pleased to share the NDIS Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2028 to better support people with a disability from all cultural and language backgrounds. The CALD Strategy and Action Plan include 6 key priorities and 28 actions to: support CALD communities to better access and use the NDIS improve NDIS plans to reflect the needs of CALD participants. We co-designed the CALD Strategy and Action Plan with more than 800 people from CALD communities. We’ve also translated these resources in 17 languages, including Auslan. We would like to thank the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA), our External Advisory Group (EAG) with representatives from 32 organisations, and all the communities and stakeholders who contributed to this work. We will continue to work with you to make sure we are meeting the needs of CALD communities – now, and into the future. We will also publish regular reports to track our progress.