Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney
What is your submission about?
Please provide a brief summary of your submission
Topic name
Support for the continuation of census questions on disability.
Clarification that the SDAC, not the census, is the ABS preferred method to estimate disability prevalence.
Proposing a Yes/No question on whether a person is an NDIS participant
Choose your area of interest
Please select one item
(Required)
Population
Sex and gender
Households and families
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Income and work
Unpaid work and care
Education and training
Ticked
Disability and carers
Housing
Location
Transport
Cultural diversity
Religion
Other topic
Topics on Disability and carers
Choose one or more of the following topics that relates to your submission
If other please specify
Information on NDIS participants not available from the NDIA
Assessment Criteria 1
1.
This topic is of current national importance.
National Importance
Data is needed on NDIS participants and their characteristics described in the census. This is essential so that the community, researchers and policy makers can understand the coverage of the scheme across population groups.
To date, the NDIA has not released client data as recommended by the Productivity Commission in its 2017 report on NDIS Costs, nor has it responded to the recommendations. Through the Commonwealth Data Integration arrangements, NDIA data would be able to be linked to other national datasets, providing a detailed picture of NDIS participants and their supports, while ensuring data confidentiality is guaranteed.
The census will not replace the data that should be available for the NDIS, but will provide a valuable snapshot of NDIS participants at the census date. Data linkage across censuses will provide a valuable longitudinal picture of NDIS participants going forward.
Assessment Criteria 2
2.
There is a need for data from a Census of the whole population.
For whole population
Data from the census will permit a view covering specific population groups, notably Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people and CALD populations, across urban, regional and remote areas.
Assessment Criteria 3
3.
The topic can be accurately collected in a form which the household completes themselves.
Easy to answer
The new question proposed is a Yes/No question for persons identified with a disability using existing questions.
Assessment Criteria 4
4.
The topic would be acceptable to Census respondents.
Acceptable
The question is a factual issue, and will not be intrusive nor constitute a Provider burden.
Assessment Criteria 5
5.
The topic can be collected efficiently.
Collected efficiently
A simple Yes/No question does not impose a coding burden
Assessment Criteria 6
6.
There is likely to be a continuing need for data on this topic in the following Census.
Continuing need
The question should be evaluated before the 2026 census in light of other information then available on NDIS participants and the supports provided to them from the NDIS
Assessment Criteria 7
7.
There are no other alternative data sources or solutions that could meet the topic need.
No alternatives
The NDIA is known to hold an extensive database on NDIS participants, their support plans and supports provided. These data have been collected for internal use in actuarial studies and outcome evaluation, But data are not being released to the community, researchers and other users, notably the AIHW and the ABS.
The ABS is urged to discuss the relative merits of the recommended census approach and alternative access to NDIS data with the NDIA in deciding on inclusion of the proposed question.