As a leading University for disability research, La Trobe University has received funding to develop practical, evidence-based resources to help National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers meet their regulatory requirements and deliver consistent, high quality services to people living with disability.
The funding was announced today (27 June) by Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Hon Stuart Robert MP.
The $750,000 national project draws on the significant research track record of La Trobe's Living with Disability Research Centre (LIDS), to increase the capability of NDIS providers to deliver high-quality, evidence-informed practice.
La Trobe Professor Christine Bigby, Director of LIDS, said that with so many so many people living with disability and with so many diverse NDIS providers across Australia, it is essential that a robust 'toolkit' of resources is available to everyone - to ensure consistency of approach and the highest quality practice standards.
"As well as providing high quality, evidence-informed resources for service providers , our project will also assist auditors in monitoring practice quality and will ultimately help to improve the quality of life of many people living with disabilities in Australia," Professor Bigby said.
"Parallel resources designed with people with intellectual disabilities and their families will help to empower them to identify elements of quality and make the right choices when it comes to NDIS supports and services," Professor Bigby said.
The project will include:
- Developing and disseminating digital training resources for staff and managers about practice skill and structures needed to embed quality practices
- Parallel resources for people with disabilities and families to identify good practice
- A research measure of practice quality translated into easy-to-use observational tools for internal quality assurance and external auditors.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Stuart Robert, announced ten organisations will receive a share of $5.7 million - the first under the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission's new four-year $17.6 million investment in building capacity amongst NDIS providers.
"The NDIS requires a robust provider network that can support people with disability wherever they live and whatever their needs, which is why the Government is providing this funding," Minister Robert said.
"What is so great about this program is the tools and resources they develop will be informed by experts in the industry and with insights of providers and participants and will be available to all NDIS providers across the country."
The Support for NDIS Providers Program is administered by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the independent Commonwealth agency responsible for improving the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services.
