7.8.1 Social participation – Evidence from large scale surveys
The quantitative data provides information about activities that NDIS participants and carers have done recently and those activities they would most like to do in the coming year.
For both groups, the most frequently reported activities that had been undertaken were spending time with family and friends. The most desired future activity was to go on a holiday. Little change over time was observed in patterns of social participation.
The most common barriers to social participation which were reported by people with disability in both waves 1 and 2 were that activities ‘cost too much’ and that ‘other people cannot understand the person with disability’.
While there was an overall reduction in the proportion of all other barriers reported by NDIS participants in wave 2, the data shows that there are several considerable hurdles (related to buildings access, transport, safety, organisations and timing) which impact on the social participation of people with disability.
Comparison of the social participation of NDIS and non-NDIS participants, did not identify any statistically significant differences. As the NDIS is still relatively new, a longer observation period may be required in order to identify proper impacts of the NDIS on social participation.
7.8.2 Social participation – Evidence from in-depth qualitative interviews
NDIS participants’ engagement in social and everyday activities increased over time. As a result, many participants were learning new skills and enhancing existing capabilities.
However, it was notable that for participants with mental health problems, intellectual disability or with Autism Spectrum Disorder, impacts related to social participation were more mixed. Concerns were raised by these respondents about the difficulties they had in participating socially and developing friendships; this had not improved with the NDIS.
Easing the care burden of carers improved their social participation as it allowed them to be involved in other valued activities such as quality time with other family members that would previously not have been possible.
7.8.3 Educational participation – Evidence from large scale surveys
The proportion of NDIS participants currently studying decreased by eight per cent between wave 1 and 2. The majority of those participating in education were children who were studying full-time in a school setting.
Working in a job and undertaking further education or training were the most preferred post-education objectives of young people with disability in both waves 1 and 2. A further group of students (26 per cent in wave 1 and 32 per cent in wave 2) did not know what they wanted to do when they finished their education.
In both waves 1 and 2, a fifth of adult participants reported that they would like to study in the future. While the main perceived obstacle to education was the health/disability of the person with disability, many other barriers were reported. These included opportunities for study, transport and parking, facilities and equipment, personal supports and flexible study arrangements. Little evidence was found in wave 2 that these barriers to educational participation are being overcome by NDIS participants. This appears to be an area of much complexity and one requiring further attention.
Only a small proportion (11 per cent) of all carers were in education at either wave 1 and 2. This was primarily on a part-time basis.
The NDIS was not found to have a statistically significant impact on the educational activity of people with disability or of their families and carers. This evidence will take some time to emerge and outcomes should be monitored in the future.
One-fifth of all NDIS participants aged 16 years or older (22 per cent) were employed in wave 1, and this did not change over time.
Most worked part-time and many had had their workplaces, hours or conditions adapted to enable them to work. Of those in employment, many worked in an Australian Disability Enterprise (44 per cent in wave 1 and 52 per cent in wave 2).
Overwhelmingly, NDIS participants liked their job and did not want a different job.
NDIS participants who were not working in wave 1 were fairly evenly distributed between those who wanted a paid job and those who did not currently want a paid job. However, the proportion of NDIS participants who did not want paid work increased in wave 2.
Of those that were not working, but currently wanted to work, only 30 per cent in both waves 1 and wave 2 were actively seeking employment.
Severe barriers to the labour force participation of people with disability are evident. The most common barrier reported by people with disability in both waves 1 and 2 was their own health/disability. Other barriers included a lack of opportunities, employer perceptions of people with disability, difficulties with transport or parking, difficulties using facilities or equipment, and a lack of schooling, training or experience.
There was little evidence that these barriers were being overcome with time and, unless addressed will continue to impact negatively on the economic participation of people with disability.
The formal employment of carers of people with disability was shown to be severely impacted upon by their caring responsibilities. In waves 1, 54 per cent of carers were in employment, 19 per cent working full-time and 35 per cent part-time. The proportion of carers in full time employment declined slightly in wave 2.
About a fifth of carers in both waves 1 and 2 reported that they had given up work to provide care and support to the person with disability.
In wave 1, half of the carers surveyed reported that they would like to have a paid job; this proportion decreased by eight per cent in wave 2. Their caring role was perceived as being the main barrier precluding them from obtaining paid employment.
7.8.4 Educational participation – Evidence from in-depth qualitative interviews
Unlike social participation, there were few instances of reported increased participation in paid or unpaid work. Only a small number of NDIS participants were engaged in ongoing (mostly supported) employment in wave 1. While there was an increase in participation in employment related activities (including volunteer work, work experience, supported employment and paid work) by wave 2, still only a few NDIS participants reported undertaking these activities.
A few examples were also provided in wave 2 of families or carers increasing their working hours, or pursuing employment activities. This was a consequence of having a little more free time as a result of the NDIS participant being involved in more supervised activities than previously.
7.8.5 Goals and aspirations - Evidence from in-depth qualitative interviews
For younger NDIS participants, goals and aspirations were mainly related to maximising age appropriate developmental capabilities and the transition into childcare, kindergarten or school (including moving from a home-school situation to a mainstream primary school).
The goals and aspirations of adult participants centred on enrolling in further study, gaining employment or volunteer work, developing more independence (with budgeting, transport, and cooking), increasing social skills and living independently (or continuing to do so).
Since joining the NDIS many achievements related to NDIS participants’ educational goals were made. Many young children had transitioned into school, while other NDIS participants had enrolled in vocational education or university.
Employment-specific goals were included in many of the participants’ plans, which aimed to assist with integration into the workplace. As noted above, however, the achievement of employment related goals had been limited in wave 2.
7.8.6 Life Transitions - Evidence from in-depth qualitative interviews
In general, almost all NDIS participants and their families and carers had experienced some type of life change or transition between the wave 1 and 2 interviews. Some NDIS participants had transitioned into their first year of school, from school to further studies, or from further studies to employment related activities.
In almost all instances, the NDIS was reported to have assisted participants with these major life transitions.
