First Nations Advisory Council to the NDIA formed
The First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) has entered into a partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to co-design a new NDIS First Nations Strategy and action plan that reflects the goals and aspirations of First Peoples with disability’s experiences and voices.
FPDN CEO Damian Griffis said this partnership will integrate our long-standing grassroots knowledge and advocacy into improving the NDIS.
“We spend a lot of time in the community and we hear firsthand some of the big issues in terms of getting the NDIS working properly for Mob. We’re unique because we are First Nations people or First Nations people with disability,” Mr Griffis said.
“With this partnership, we’ll establish a First Nations Advisory Council (FNAC) to provide advice to the NDIA to get the NDIS working better for Mob with disability.”
“The membership of the FNAC will comprise First Nations people with disability, including First Nations NDIS participants, peak bodies, organisations, and sector and community representatives, with the composition of the Council prioritising the knowledge those with lived experience hold.”
The FNAC will convene regularly and focus in the short-term on co-designing the NDIS First Nations Strategy. The FNAC will then focus long-term on other actions to achieve enhanced outcomes for First Nations people with disability.
The FNAC will help make sure NDIA programs and initiatives are informed by First Nations voices and experiences, reflect the goals and hopes of First Nations communities, embed principles of self-determination and are culturally safe.
“Our expectations are high because we know the stakes are high and we need to make sure that our people with disability get fair access to the NDIS,” Mr Griffis said.
The FNAC will hold its first meeting on Friday 10 March in Naarm (Melbourne) at the Koorie Heritage Trust.
The new First Nations Strategy will also align to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. More information on the strategy can be found on the NDIS website. (https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/strategies/first-nations-strategy)
Minister Bill Shorten also put out a media release about the partnership here.
And you can watch a video discussion about the FNAC at right.
