Recommendation 9.8 – Return to Country

What has been achieved to date

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) continues to progress this recommendation and is reviewing the relevant legislation amendments to determine the operational intersect of Return to Country within the Scheme.

 The NDIA’s First Nations Group has been created to enable the NDIA to improve outcomes for First Nations people with disability. The First Nations Group is co-designing the First Nations Strategy Implementation plan which will enable us to implement effective changes for First Nations people, including exploring options for Return to Country. 

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report

In consultation with the First Nations Advisory Council, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) should:

• create a new line item in the Pricing Arrangements recognising cultural supports and return to Country trips
• develop guidelines for NDIA staff on including cultural supports and return to Country trips as reasonable and necessary supports in plans
• educate First Nations participants about the availability of cultural supports and return to Country trips included in their plans.

Australian Government Response July 2024

The NDIA, with the First Peoples Disability Network, is co designing a NDIS First Nations Strategy with participants, First Nations disability community, families, carers, and sector stakeholders, to improve access and outcomes for First Nations people with disability in the NDIS.

The NDIS First Nations Advisory Council has been established as the co-design group to ensure that the voices and perspectives of First Nations people with lived experience, and their families, carers and communities are central to the development of the First Nations Strategy.

The NDIA, First Peoples Disability Network and the First Nations Advisory Council are working together to develop goals and initiatives to best support First Nations NDIS participants and to ensure that all decisions that affect First Nations participants: 

• 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 informed, safe, accessible and inclusive. 

This work includes consideration of the initiatives suggested by the Disability Royal Commission in Recommendations 9.8 and 9.9, including in respect of a potential ‘Return to Country’ policy and criteria for funding family supports.

More recommendations

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.