The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has delivered an additional $1.4 million for Disability Representative and Carers Organisations (DRCOs) to support co-design activities.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said resourcing DRCOs provides broad benefits, including improving the ability to listen to diverse communities, foster open dialogue and opportunities to relay their expertise.
“DRCOs hold trusted relationships with hundreds of thousands of people with disability, their families and carers, together with an understanding of the key issues we need to tackle,” he said.
The funding allows DRCOs to continue to conduct focus groups to workshop ideas, engage the community and NDIS participants through surveys and one-on-one interviews to provide the NDIA with what is working, and what can be done better.
Inclusion Australia CEO Catherine McAlpine also welcomed the funding “because that means people with intellectual disability have accessible resources and support to be able to fully participate in co-design,” she said.
The information DCROs gather in their own engagements with disability communities will be shared with the NDIA in monthly meetings.