The committee will investigate:

➡️ The reasons for the introduction of independent assessments

➡️ The data and the modelling that sits behind their introduction

➡️ How assessments will be used to determine eligibility and access to the NDIS

➡️ How assessments will be used in planning – and how they will be used to determine individual plans and budgets

➡️ Where else in the world assessments have been used like this – and what effect they have had

➡️ The independence, qualifications, training, expertise of assessors

➡️ How appropriate the assessments are for people with different types of disability, and for people who come from different backgrounds – such as First Nations people with disability or people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background

➡️ Anything else that takes the committee’s fancy.

This is good news. It means the committee has heard your concerns – and wants to dive deeper and hear more.

Have your say on NDIS assessments

The inquiry begins now and will run until the end of March.

And as great as that is, that means we don’t have much time.

You can make a submission to the inquiry in a couple of different ways.

You can make a written submission directly to the Committee

It doesn’t have to be long – even dot points will do the trick. The most important thing is to explain why you are worried and why you think these assessments won’t work for you (or your family member).

(You can find out how to submit on the Committee’s webpage. You can also read the full terms of reference for the inquiry.)

Or if it is easier for you, you can tell us your story

We will then bundle up all of the stories and share them with the Committee.

If you have already made a submission using our website recently and would like us to include that in our submission to the Committee (instead of writing a new one) – send us an email to let us know we have your permission.

It does not matter how you do it. But it does matter that you have your say now.

We want the Committee to understand why we are so worried – and what we want them to do about it. These changes were going to be introduced without consultation. Without scrutiny. And without people having their say.

It is because of all of your recent actions we now we have a chance to speak out. It’s taken a lot to get to this point. So we don’t want to waste this opportunity.

Please help us get the word out – we want as many people as possible to contact the Committee and let them know what needs to change.

More information

Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS – Independent Assessments inquiry

Media release – Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme: Committee launches inquiry into independent assessments

How to make a submission to a Senate inquiry – Easy read PDF

Every Australian Counts – Have your say on NDIS assessments

Every Australian Counts – Take action on NDIS assessments homepage

Every Australian Counts – All NDIS assessments news and explainers