Policy Priority: People with complex, high needs are supported
This policy priority aims to measure NDIS services that support people with disability who have complex high needs.
The NDIS supports people with disability caused by a permanent impairment, which may be intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, physical or psychosocial (NDIS 2025a). The NDIS provides funding for people with disability to receive a package of flexible supports that meet their needs.
The purpose of the “People with complex, high needs are supported” policy priority is to determine if NDIS participants with complex needs have choice and control to receive the support they need. There are 2 measures under this policy priority:
- NDIS participants choice and control (updated)
- NDIS individual support.
The updated measure is discussed below.
Measure: NDIS participants choice and control
Access to disability supports through the NDIS helps people with disability pursue their goals and aspirations and exercise choice and control over their own lives (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031). For more information, see Data Dictionary: NDIS participants choice and control.
The measure examines the percentage of NDIS participants who responded ‘Yes’ to ‘Has the NDIS helped you have more choice and control over your life?’ after two years in the scheme.
NDIS participants choice and control
Latest update: 80% (2024–25 Q3)
Baseline: 75% (2021–22 Q2)
Progress status: Improving
In 2024–25 Q3:
- the highest proportion of NDIS participants who believed the NDIS had helped them have more choice and control (after two years in the scheme) was among those aged 45–64 (84%), compared with 74% for NDIS participants aged 15–24
- NDIS participants in Major cities and regional centres (populations over 50,000, and between 5,000 and 15,000) reported the highest rates of increased choice and control after two years in the scheme (80%), compared with 74% in Remote and very remote areas
- by disability group, 90% of NDIS participants with multiple sclerosis believed the NDIS helped them have more choice and control (after 2 years in the scheme), compared with 71% of participants with a hearing impairment or other sensory/speech disability.
Figure 5.1: Proportion of NDIS participants aged 15–64 who responded ‘Yes’ to ‘Has the NDIS helped you have more choice and control over your life?’ after 2 years in the scheme, 2021–22 Q2 to 2024–25 Q3
The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of participants aged 15–64 who responded 'yes' to 'Has the NDIS helped you have more choice and control over your life?' after two years in the scheme. Data from 2021–22 Q2 to 2024–25 Q3 are used. In 2024–25 Q3, 80% of NDIS participants believed the NDIS had helped them have more choice and control (after two years in the scheme), compared with 75% in 2021–22 Q2.
Additional trend data can be found in the downloadable tables.
| Quarter | Proportion (%) |
|---|---|
| 2021–22: Q2 | 75% |
| 2021–22: Q3 | 76% |
| 2021–22: Q4 | 76% |
| 2022–23: Q1 | 76% |
| 2022–23: Q2 | 76% |
| 2022–23: Q3 | 76% |
| 2022–23: Q4 | 77% |
| 2023–24: Q1 | 77% |
| 2023–24: Q2 | 77% |
| 2023–24: Q3 | 77% |
| 2023–24: Q4 | 78% |
| 2024–25: Q1 | 79% |
| 2024–25: Q2 | 79% |
| 2024–25: Q3 | 80% |
Notes:
- Prior to 30 October 2023, there was only one ‘Yes’ option to the question ‘Has the NDIS helped you have more choice and control over your life?’. Starting from 30 October 2023, the ‘Yes’ option was split into ‘Yes, a lot’ or ‘Yes, a bit’.
- Denominator includes participants who have been in the scheme for at least two years and have responded ‘Yes’, ‘Yes, a lot’, ‘Yes, a bit’ or ‘No’ to the question ‘Has the NDIS helped you have more choice and control over your life?’.
- Numerator includes participants who have been in the scheme for at least two years and have responded ‘Yes’, ‘Yes, a lot’ or ‘Yes, a bit’ to the question ‘Has the NDIS helped you have more choice and control over your life?’.
- To be eligible for the NDIS, a person must meet the disability requirements or the early intervention requirements. Disability requirements include that the disability is caused by an impairment, is likely to be permanent and significantly impacts the individual's ability to perform everyday activities and is likely to need NDIS support for life. Early intervention requirements are that the individual has an impairment that is likely to be permanent or are a child younger than 9 with development delay and that early intervention supports are likely to reduce their future support needs and be of benefit to the individual.
- Time series analysis for the NDIS data presented here is different from the longitudinal approach taken in NDIS reporting. See Data sources | National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for more details.
- Data are for participants aged 15–64.
Source: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Business Systems.
Source:
NDIA Business Systems.
|
Data source overview
For figure notes, see Appendix B: Figure notes and sources.
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