PWDA Welcomes the Announcement on the New Support Needs Assessment Tool and the Commitment to Adapting the Tool Through Co-design to Ensure it is Fit for Purpose

# People with Disability Australia (PWDA) Welcomes New Support Needs Assessment Tool

## A Step Towards Holistic Assessment

People with Disability Australia (PWDA) welcomes the National Disability Insurance Agency’s announcement of a new support needs assessment tool. The considered approach taken to its selection is commendable. PWDA is encouraged by the decision to license the I-CAN version 6 tool and to adapt it in collaboration with the disability community. This represents a significant opportunity to move away from a clinical or deficit-based model. Instead, it aims for a holistic assessment of people’s lives, support needs, and wellbeing. This aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

“We are pleased to see a commitment to a person-centred, rights-based assessment process that understands people with disability as whole people — not just diagnoses. This is a critical foundation for genuine reform,” stated Alexandra Bignell, Board Director, PWDA.

“We welcome the commitment to ongoing co-design with people with disability, their supporters, and representative organisations as the tool is developed, adapted, implemented, and evaluated,” Ms Bignell added.

The I-CAN Tool: A Proven Solution

The I-CAN tool is not new. It has been refined over two decades and is evidence-based. It is widely used in disability support programs, including the Disability Support for Older Australians program. However, PWDA stresses that the NDIS is unique and complex. Its participant cohort is diverse, so careful, co-designed modification, piloting, and evaluation of the tool will be essential.

Key Considerations for Implementation

PWDA notes the tool’s staged rollout, which includes further development and planned input from the community. This is crucial before any further technology is integrated. PWDA supports this “build with, not for” approach and highlights several key considerations:

• Whole-of-life assessment: The inclusion of personal and environmental factors, along with wellbeing, is a welcome shift from solely clinical or functional assessments.

• Co-design and lived experience: The partnership with the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies is encouraging. Transparency about the involvement of people with disability, including those with cognitive or communication support needs, in leadership and co-design roles is essential.

• Staged Implementation: A phased implementation that allows for evaluation and iterative improvement is strongly supported. Our joint DPOA position statement (June 2025), with WWDA and others, recommended such an approach. We are pleased to see this reflected in the announcement. Continued public updates about how feedback from initial phases will inform changes are encouraged.

• Longer-term plan duration: The potential for longer-term plans is promising.

• From assessment to funding: Transparency and fairness throughout this process will be key to building trust.

  
  

Questions We’re Seeking Answers To

PWDA notes that several important questions remain unanswered. We will continue to seek clarity on behalf of our members, including:

• What qualifications will assessors be required to hold, and how will training be delivered?

• Will participants still have the option for reports and recommendations from their trusted providers to be considered?

• How will the needs assessment report be translated into a participant budget?

• How will complexity be defined and identified, particularly where budget size does not reflect complexity or risk?

• How will the tool be accessible to all participants, adapted for people with communication support needs, and include support for decision-making?

  
  

Looking Ahead: Collaboration and Advocacy

PWDA looks forward to continuing to work closely with the NDIA, government, and our community partners. It is essential to ensure that this change upholds the dignity, rights, and diverse experiences of all people with disability.

We reaffirm our position: needs assessment must be individualised, co-designed, and rights-based, with the clear goal of supporting people to live with independence, choice, and control.

“We are cautiously optimistic about the announcement. PWDA will closely monitor the next stages and will engage in all opportunities for co-design.

“The new needs assessment process must ensure no one is worse off and be a foundation for a fairer NDIS that genuinely supports people with disability to thrive,” concluded Ms Bignell.

Empowering the Disability Community

The disability community is diverse, with a wide variety of needs and wants. They are more than just NDIS participants or welfare payment recipients. They innovate and break the mold, creating stereotypes and attitudes that limit contributions and possibilities for society. When barriers and discrimination are encountered, the disability community innovates towards inclusion. This new assessment tool is a step towards fostering that innovation and ensuring that every individual is recognized for their unique contributions.

Conclusion: A Vision for the Future

In conclusion, the introduction of the I-CAN tool marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of disability support in Australia. It signifies a shift towards a more inclusive and understanding approach. As the community engages in this process, it is vital to maintain a focus on transparency, co-design, and the individual needs of participants. Together, we can work towards a fairer Australian society for people with disabilities, ensuring that their rights and dignity are upheld.