NDIS Participants - Justice

Question

Ms Stangel: Senator, you're absolutely right. Following a section 55 request to all states and territories, which was made in around June 2024, all jurisdictions, except for one jurisdiction, provided data to the NDIS of participants that either had recently been or were being held in custody during that period of time for a 12-month period. That dataset is a point-in-time dataset. So, unfortunately, unless we are requesting that section 55 data on a regular basis, it is point-in-time data. We continue to work with the states and territories in being able to get a scheduled data set, to inform the agency when somebody is a current or prospective participant. The justice liaison officers, who are part of the Justice Planning Team, are face-to-face in working with nearly all correctional facilities across the country. So, through our justice liaison officers, we are aware very quickly about whether somebody needs access to the agency. That's one way in which we're able to collect data for people who may have access, or who are coming into the scheme. We also use a dataset from Centrelink which provides data matching. Centrelink data is a really great opportunity for us to understand when somebody is in and out of the justice system, and if they may be a NDIS participant. And we work extremely closely with the states and territories to refine that-obviously, there are local operational processes that work really well. We'll continue to work with the states and territories to refine that data in terms of getting real-life, real-time data with the states and territories across the board. Senator RUSTON: Okay. On the request from former minister Shorten for the states and territories to provide that data proactively: you're saying to me that the NDIA still does not have a dataset apart from the point-in-time data that you referred to. So there is no real-time requirement for the states and territories under that particular section, section 55, that you referred to? Ms Stangel: That's correct. It's point-in-time data, but there is regular data sharing when requested. Senator RUSTON: When is the last point-in-time data that you have taken from? Ms Stangel: I'd have to take that on notice and get back to you.

Answer

Please see attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• NDIA SQ26-000141.pdf (opens in a new tab)