Disability Safeguards Consultation

Overview

The Australian Government (the government) is committed to improving safeguards for people with disability. The government has committed to developing a Disability Support Quality and Safeguarding Framework (the Framework) and Disability Support Ecosystem Safeguarding Strategy (the Strategy)

The Framework and the Strategy will aim to: 

• set the standard and culture of the systems, services, supports, people and organisations that together meet the needs of people with disability
• empower people with disability to access quality supports and use safeguards  
• unify and strengthen safeguards for people with disability  

Consultation 

We need to consult with the disability community to ensure the Framework and the Strategy meet your needs. Your input will inform the Framework and the Strategy. 

We want to know the thoughts of: 

• all people with disability (whether you are an NDIS participant or not), including First Nations people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people, older people and people from regional, rural and remote locations
• families of people with disability 
• communication partners of people with disability (those who provide alternative or augmented communication)
• representative organisations, advocates and supporters of people with disability 
• the disability support sector, including providers and workers (in Australian Government or state and territory government services that provide disability support)
• people working in relevant mainstream services (education, health, etc.) 
• academics, researchers and specialists in quality and safeguarding, disability and disability service provision. 

By understanding your perspectives, we can work together to strengthen safeguards, promote inclusion, and help ensure people with disability can access safe and quality supports.

Consultation paper

The consultation paper explains:

• Why we need the Framework and the Strategy
• What the Framework and the Strategy will do
• The purpose of the consultation
• Who we want to hear from
• How to get involved
• Key terms
• What we want to hear from you.

Australian Healthcare Associates 

Australian Healthcare Associates (AHA) is facilitating the consultation. AHA’s engagement is based on the following guiding principles: 

• use and build on what we have already been told 
• facilitate conversation and encourage innovation 
• do no harm and make a difference, support people with disability to lead and innovate 
• "no wrong door" – responders can engage at any point, and in ways that work for them.

Submissions 

The consultation will happen over 4 steps. During each step, we will collect different information to help develop the Framework and the Strategy.

We are in step 1 (10 November 2025 to 22 December 2025). During step 1, we will collect information about how the disability community engages with safeguards. This includes information about: 

• the kinds of safeguards people with disability engage with 
• the issues people with disability face when engaging with safeguards 
• how family, advocates, and support people assist people with disability to engage with safeguards 

For step 1, submissions can be made in the following ways: 

• online survey responses
• phone survey responses 
• written submissions, including emails and letters 
• video recordings, submitted online.

Please read the Participant information sheet for more information about the consultation and how to submit phone, written or video responses. 

If you would like to provide your submission in another way, please contact AHA at disabilitysafeguards@ahaconsulting.com.au. 

More information on steps 2, 3 and 4 will be available later. Sign up to the NDIS Reforms mailing list to receive updates on this consultation when they become available.

Links to the survey (including accesible versions) are available in the Consultation survey section.

Please note if your response or submission includes a complaint or concern about specific supports or services, it will not be able to be actioned through this consultation process.

• For concerns or complaints about a service provider or worker, please contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
• For issues related to disability advocacy services, please contact the Complaints Resolution and Referral Service.

Accessibility 

Making the consultation accessible to all ensures that everyone can share their thoughts.

Written resources are available in Easy Read format. These resources are linked  under relevant subheadings. They are also available individually and as a package in the Easy Read documents section.

There are Auslan videos explaining:

• The consultation paper preamble
• The consultation paper and the survey questions.

The survey is available in Auslan and Easy Read.

Phone interpreting and translation services are available at no cost to participants.  If you require interpreting, please contact disabilitysafeguards@ahaconsulting.com.au. Alternatively, you can submit your response in your preferred language. 

Mailing list

You can subscribe to the NDIS Reforms mailing list to receive updates about this consultation and other NDIS reforms.

Webinars 

There will be webinars during the consultation. These webinars will share the next steps in the development of the Framework and the Strategy. 

More details will be available at a later date. To receive updates on these webinars and other parts of the consultation, sign up to the NDIS Reforms mailing list.

Frequently asked questions

There is a list of answers to frequently asked questions available to read.

Privacy

Your personal information is protected by law, including under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). 

The way we will use and protect your personal information is outlined in our Privacy Collection Notice.

Easy Read documents

Consultation survey (accessible versions)