NDIS participants capacity to self-advocate

Population groups

• Indigenous status

  Does the proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves vary for First Nations and non-Indigenous participants?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS participants (aged 15–64) who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves, by Indigenous status. In 2023–24 Q2, 31% of First Nations participants felt able to advocate for themselves, compared with 37% of non-Indigenous participants.

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  Indigenous status	% of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate for themselves
  First Nations	31%
  Non-Indigenous	37%
  All persons	37%

  Notes:

  1. Denominator includes participants who responded to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  2. Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  3. Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
  4. Data are for participants aged 15–64.
  5. Indigenous status is voluntarily self-reported based on the ABS Indigenous Status Standard.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business Systems.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems | Data source overview
  

• Sex and gender

  Does the proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves vary by gender?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS participants (aged 15–64) who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves, for males and females. In 2023–24 Q2, 36% of male NDIS participants felt able to advocate for themselves, compared with 39% of female participants.

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  Gender	% of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate for themselves
  Males	36%
  Females	39%
  All persons	37%

  Notes:

  1. Denominator includes participants who responded to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  2. Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  3. Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
  4. Data are for participants aged 15–64.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business Systems.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems | Data source overview
  

• Age group

  Does the proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves vary by age?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS participants (aged 15–64) who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves, grouped by age. In 2023–24 Q2, 46% of NDIS participants aged 45–64 felt able to advocate for themselves, compared with 24% in the 15–24 age group.

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  Age group	% of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate for themselves
  15–24	24%
  25–44	38%
  45–64	46%
  All ages	37%

  Notes:

  1. Denominator includes participants who responded to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  2. Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  3. Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
  4. Data are for participants aged 15–64.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business Systems.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems | Data source overview
  

• Cultural and linguistic diversity status

  Does the proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves vary by cultural and linguistic diversity background?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS participants (aged 15–64) who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves, by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) status. In 2023–24 Q2, 35% of NDIS participants from CALD backgrounds felt able to advocate for themselves, compared with 37% among the non-CALD group.

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  Cultural and linguistic diversity status	% of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate for themselves
  CALD	35%
  Non-CALD	37%
  All persons	37%

  Notes:

  1. Denominator includes participants who responded to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  2. Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  3. Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
  4. Data are for participants aged 15–64.
  5. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) cohort includes people born in countries other than main English-speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, Canada, Republic of Ireland, and South Africa), and/or those who mainly speak a language other than English at home.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business System.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems | Data source overview
  

• Remoteness

  Does the proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves vary by remoteness?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS participants (aged 15–64) who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves, grouped by remoteness. In 2023–24 Q2, in regional areas with populations of less than 5,000, 41% of NDIS participants felt able to advocate for themselves, compared with 36% in major cities.

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  Remoteness	% of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate for themselves
  Major cities	36%
  Regional – population greater than 50,000	39%
  Regional – population between 15,000 and 50,000	37%
  Regional – population between 5,000 and 15,000	40%
  Regional – population less than 5,000	41%
  Remote and very remote	39%
  All areas	37%

  Notes:

  1. Denominator includes participants who responded to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  2. Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  3. Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
  4. Data are for participants aged 15–64.
  5. Areas of remoteness are classified by the NDIS using the Modified Monash Model (MMM). Major cities includes Missing/Not stated.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business Systems.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems | Data source overview
  

• Disability group

  Does the proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves vary by disability group?

  The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of NDIS participants (aged 15–64) who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves, by disability group. In 2023–24 Q2, of NDIS participants with spinal cord injury, 82% felt able to advocate for themselves, compared with 16% of participants with Down syndrome.

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  Disability group	% of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate for themselves
  Acquired brain injury	36%
  Autism	24%
  Cerebral palsy	38%
  Down syndrome	16%
  Hearing impairment	65%
  Intellectual disability	24%
  Multiple sclerosis	77%
  Psychosocial disability	31%
  Spinal cord injury	82%
  Stroke	49%
  Visual impairment	71%
  Other neurological	51%
  Other physical	72%
  Other sensory/speech	32%
  Other	62%
  All disabilities	37%

  Notes:

  1. Denominator includes participants who responded to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  2. Numerator includes participants who answer "Yes" to the question "Do you feel able to advocate (stand up) for yourself? That is, do you feel able to speak up if you have issues or problems with accessing supports?".
  3. Eligibility requirements for the NDIS include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent, the permanent impairment substantially reduces the individual's functional capacity, affects their ability to work, study or take part in social life, and that the individual is likely to need support under the NDIS for their whole life.
  4. Data are for participants aged 15–64.
  5. Disability group 'Other' includes missing.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business Systems.

  Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Business Systems | Data source overview