Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are to be advised that this blog post may contain images of deceased people.
We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are on. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and celebrate the diversity of First Nations people and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of Australia.
In January this year, the NDIA introduced the NDIS First Nations Strategy 2025-2030, which looks towards creating equal and fair opportunities for all First Nations people with a disability. This strategy has been developed with the voices, wisdom and experiences from First Nations communities and incorporates important knowledge from over 650 First Nations organisations.
This strategy will help ensure that the NDIS is “more equitable, culturally safe, community-centred and coordinated for First Nations people” (The National Disability Insurance Agency, 2025). This strategy looks towards improving the NDIS for First Nations people in three ways including “partnership, co-design and power sharing” (The National Disability Insurance Agency, 2025). Additionally, this new strategy has been developed in accordance with and draws on the values within the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and also the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Within this new strategy, four priority areas have been identified to concentrate on. These include:
- Equal and fair access to support
- Transforming decision-making on First Nations governance within the NDIA
- Working collaboratively across and within sectors
- Sharing knowledge that contributes to meaningful change.
The Goal
The primary goal of the NDIS First Nations Strategy is, “to ensure the NDIS delivers and continues to create improved outcomes in the lives of First Nations people with disability” (The National Disability Insurance Agency, 2025).
9 Ways of Working
To achieve this goal of the NDIS First Nations Strategy, there are 9 key commitments that the NDIA have pledged to upholding and acting on. These 9 values are a reflection of First Nations ways of being, knowing and doing. These include:
- Utilising straightforward language or ‘straight talk’
- Leading with a ‘strengths-based’ approach
- Respecting and appreciating First Nations and community-centred practices
- ‘Our mob, our way’ – which encompasses respecting the work and self-determination of First Nations people
- Crafting cultural safety
- Continuing conversations and acting on what is learnt from this
- Being open to collaboration and being flexible
- Developing sustainable and effective programs and services
- Creating equal opportunities to achieve fairness for First Nations people.
Future Plans
Looking towards the future, the NDIA have stated that a First Nations Strategy Implementation Plan will be co-designed in 2025. This will be completed in collaboration with First Nations people, as well as the wider First Nations disability community which extends to carers, providers, families, partners, and government/non-government organisations.
Janine Mohamed, a Narrunga Kaurna woman from South Australia and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Group at the NDIA, believes that this is a meaningful milestone for the NDIS and First Nation peoples and that the strategy will ensure that “our service and supports are equitable, culturally safe, and community led.”
At Ability Partners, we are proud to support this NDIS First Nations Strategy as a new national approach to supporting First Nations people. We have an excellent team of experienced therapists who are ready to support and work alongside you to achieve goals that really matter. Click the link below to contact us and speak with one of our friendly team members.
