Poor employment outcomes revealed in new NDIS data

The first round of National Disability Insurance Scheme data, collected by the National Disability Insurance Agency, showed employment opportunities for people with disability continues to disappoint.

Australia’s performance in terms of people with disability being able to get a job is poor at best, putting Australia 21 out of 29 OECD countries, National Disability Services (NDS) acting CEO, David Moody told F2L.

“A detailed report on employment outcomes for NDIS participants, though not new (data is from a 2018 Participant Outcomes report), indicates that the proportion of NDIS participants in paid employment has remained steady from 2016 to 2018, at 22 per cent, while 31 per cent of working-age participants have a work-related goal in their plan,” he said. “These figures identify the challenges involved in improving the employment outcomes for NDIS participants, and we welcome the announcement by the NDIA Board of a 32 per cent employment target for people with disability.

“NDS and our members remain committed to supporting a continuum of employment opportunities being available to people with disability, including supported and open employment, job carving, microenterprises, customised employment and DES.”

NDIS Minister Stuart Robert said the outcomes data collected by the NDIA represent one of the largest surveys of those within the disability sector that has ever been conducted in Australia.

“As demonstrated, the data will build a clear and accurate picture of what is working in the NDIS and what challenges we need to overcome to ensure long term outcomes for participants,” he said.

The data showed improvements across various domains including children’s development, community participation, personal relationships, and choice and control for people with disability since the NDIS began.

The resources is intended to assist service providers to plan, make better assessments of the volume of funded supports by geographical areas and client groups, and give a more accurate picture of opportunities to offer services and supports.