Change 10: New NDIS First Nations Strategy (2025-2030)

Home » Disability and the NDIS » Change 10: New NDIS First Nations Strategy (2025-2030)

On 17th Jan 2025, the NDIS launched its First Nations Strategy (2025-2030) to improve access, support, and outcomes for First Nations people with disability. This strategy is a roadmap for change, designed in partnership with First Nations people, to ensure NDIS services are culturally safe, accessible, and responsive.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten emphasised, “We recognise the multiple challenges and barriers First Nations people have experienced in accessing the NDIS, including culturally safe and effective NDIS services and supports… We know changes need to be made and they need to be made together with First Nations people.” (NDIS Official Statement)

Contact Us

The new strategy aims to enhance the NDIS providers to better support and improve outcomes for First Nations people with disability.

The NDIS is now supporting over 52,000 First Nations participants.

Call Us

How Was the Strategy Created?

The NDIA worked closely with First Nations people to develop this strategy. The working group included:

First Nations NDIS participants
First Nations service providers
Experts on First Nations disability issues
Representatives from First Nations organisations

Strategic Priority

The First Nations Strategy identifies 4 priority areas for action.

Priority 1: Fair and equitable access and support

Ensures First Nations people with disability, their families, and communities can access the NDIS fairly.
Supports a culturally safe experience when applying for the NDIS.
Helps participants navigate the NDIS system with greater ease.

Priority 2: NDIS ‘Our Way’ – Power-Sharing Transformation

Ensures First Nations voices shape NDIA decisions on policies, programs, and quality standards.
Supports co-design and funding of culturally safe services for First Nations participants.

Priority 3: Working together well within and across sectors

Strengthens coordination between national, regional, and local services to support participants
Improves NDIS systems for better service delivery

Priority 4: Gathering, sharing and revisiting knowledge about meaningful change

Tracks NDIS impact on First Nations participants over time
Uses community insights to improve services and outcomes

(NDIS First Nations Strategy 2025-2030)

Why Was the First Nations Strategy Created?

The NDIS Review and Disability Royal Commission highlighted key challenges faced by First Nations people with disability, including:

Higher rates of disability among First Nations people
- First Nations people make up 3.2% of the Australian population, yet account for around 9.4% of total NDIS participants
Barriers to accessing the NDIS
- Complex application processes
- Lack of culturally safe services
- Accessing Services in Remote First Nations Communities

A very young boy with cerebral palsy sits on his mother’s lap. She is helping him to make music with rhythm sticks.

This strategy responds to these issues by embedding cultural safety, improving access, and ensuring First Nations people have a strong voice in the NDIS.

How Does This Affect NDIS Participants?

If you are a First Nations NDIS participant, these changes mean:

Better access to culturally safe services.
More support and First Nations-centred services
Greater involvement of First Nations communities in the decision-making of NDIS
Stronger collaboration between the NDIS and other essential services

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

The NDIA will develop an Implementation Plan in 2025, working closely with First Nations communities to put this strategy into action.

Key next steps:

Introduce evaluation tool to the strategy
Co-designing the implementation plan with First Nations participants and organisations
Tracking progress and making improvements based on First Nations feedback
Strengthening partnerships to ensure long-term, sustainable change

The NDIS First Nations Strategy (2025-2030) is a step toward a more inclusive, culturally safe, and effective NDIS for First Nations people with disability.

For more details, visit: NDIS First Nations Strategy

Want to know more? Contact Us.