NDIS Workforce Longitudinal Research Study: Year Three Report

Introduction

Understanding the workforce experience of the NDIS: Longitudinal research project is a three-year study that aims to build an understanding of the disability workforce’s experience of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Specifically, the research aims to understand workforce perceptions of the NDIS and the experience of transition, how the NDIS is impacting their work, and the skills and training the workforce needs under the NDIS. This helps the Victorian government to support the workforce through this time of unprecedented change. This research project forms a key component of Keeping our sector strong - Victoria’s Workforce Plan for the NDIS (the Plan) and more specifically its objective to build intelligence on the disability workforce.

The 2020 research was the final year of the study and it expanded on findings gathered in previous years (2018 and 2019). This report is the third in the series and it presents key findings and recommendations from the third year of the longitudinal research. The results highlight both the challenges faced by the workforce in transitioning to the new scheme, and a range of opportunities to further support the workforce. The research was initially commissioned by the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, an independent research consultancy. Research has been guided by an Expert Advisory Panel, including representation from:

• The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU)
• Industrial Relations Victoria
• WorkSafe
• Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner
• National Disability Services
• Victorian Disability Worker Commission
• 2 research participants
• The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (formerly Department of Health and Human Services)

Notes

*The workforce design team transitioned to the Disability and NDIS Branch within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), currently Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, in early 2019. For the remainder the report DFFH will be referenced where relevant.