The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has today released a Statement of Commitment to the Australian Government's National Agreement on Closing the Gap .
The Statement outlines how the NDIA will strengthen outcomes for First Nations people with disability, their families, carers and service delivery partners.
NDIA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Graeme Head AO, said the Statement will transform how we work to achieve equitable outcomes for First Nations people with disability and guide us to deliver on our responsibilities under the National Agreement to Closing the Gap.
"This commitment strongly aligns with the National Agreement's Priority Reforms , and gives focus and clarity to how we change the way we work with First Nations people and communities and embed the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms in all our business," Mr Head said.
"We recognise that reducing inequality for First Nations people with disability is a holistic approach that involves participants, their families and carers, and service delivery partners in shaping the policies and procedures that affect their lives."
NDIA Deputy Chief Executive Officer First Nations, Dr Janine Mohamed, said the Statement clearly defines what Closing the Gap means for the NDIA and outlines how the Agency will strengthen cultural safety and accountability across its work.
"The Statement sets out how the NDIA aims to deliver a culturally safe Scheme that empowers First Nations people with disability to access the right supports, build independence and shape the life they want. It reflects the strength of our commitment to listen to First Nations voices, and building strong partnerships with community," Dr Mohamed said.
Endorsed by the NDIA Board, the Statement supports change and equitable outcomes through the following commitments:
- Recognising and responding to how disability, race, gender and systemic social and cultural factors combine to affect health and wellbeing.
- Acknowledging the diversity of First Nations peoples and working locally to understand and respond to different needs.
- Regularly reflecting on the Agency's own practices and systems to improve equity and create a culturally safe, respectful and trauma-informed Agency.
The NDIA Statement of Commitment responds to obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and delivers on recommendations from the Productivity Commission's 2024 Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Review.
To support immediate action for First Nations participants, the NDIA has committed to 11 actions in the 2025 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2026 Implementation Plan .
These include improving First Nations representation across the NDIA, including the National Contact Centre, strengthening cultural safety in the Agency and provider market, and developing a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework - guided by Indigenous Data Governance - to support the NDIS First Nations Strategy and Implementation Plan.
"At the heart of our Statement of Commitment are First Nations people with disability and we want them to know that we're listening and taking action. We will improve equity in the NDIS and create a culturally safe, respectful and trauma-informed Agency," Dr Mohamed said.
View the full Statement of Commitment and supporting statement from the NDIA Board.
