Closing Market Gaps in the NDIS

Disability service providers are being encouraged to take part in new research to help close market gaps in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Researchers at the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) say while information about NDIS markets at the local level is essential to support disability care markets to grow and succeed, much of this data is missing or held within the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

CSI is looking to address this through a survey of providers, supported by the Department of Social Services and National Disability Services.

The research aims to paint a detailed picture of the disability service market in three case study areas, identifying market gaps and “thin” markets where service provision is lacking.  

It will be shared across four universities – University of New South Wales, Swinburne University, University of Melbourne and University of Western Australia.

Gordon Duff, general manager of sector development and research at National Disability Services, said this research examined important yet seldom explored issues around the oversight of public sector markets for specialist disability service provision.

“As implementation of the NDIS gathers pace, understanding what the full range of stakeholders do to ensure that ‘the right services are in the right place and time and for the right price’, is critical to our collective understanding of how disability markets evolve, are effective and equitable,” Duff said.

“The research takes a practical approach and will develop new methods to support NDS members to understand the opportunities to providing the full range of services to people living with disability.”

Let's fix #NDIS markets! NEMA VIC, Canberra region and Goldfields WA providers – a 5 minute survey to help DSS address thin markets https://t.co/BMpbUuME8P pic.twitter.com/x8cbs9QmOn

— Gemma Carey (@gemcarey) January 30, 2019

NDS CEO Chris Tanti told Pro Bono News last week that disability service providers were experiencing a lack of data – especially by location – and that this was seriously hampering evidence-based planning and the ability of both existing and new organisations to meet market needs.

Tanti said the NDIA was the best source of this data and encouraged the agency to release more data to the market in the future.

In October, CSI research director associate professor Gemma Carey, told Pro Bono News it was vital the NDIA released more market data to disability providers.

“The lack of data transparency is a huge problem,” Carey said.

“One of the best things you can do to prevent against market failure is to have transparency around supply and demand information, because that enables providers to enter new markets and know where there might be potential areas of growth in new services.”

An NDIA spokesperson told Pro Bono News the agency has published a range of items on its website to assist providers with evidence-based planning to meet market needs, including the Market Enablement Framework, NDIS Market Insights, and a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Provider and Investor Brief.

“The NDIA remains committed to working with participants, providers, and the disability sector; to deliver the NDIS… and to support and promote the health and development of the provider market,” the spokesperson said.

Andrew Whitecross from the Department of Social Services said CSI’s latest research would greatly assist the DSS Market Reform Group in its oversight of the NDIS market.

“The research, particularly on levers to influence market development, will also inform the market stewardship activities of the National Disability Insurance Agency,” Whitecross said.

This survey is the first stage of CSI’s research and will be followed by interviews and workshops with selected service providers and government representatives to find ways to support NDIS market readiness at a local level.

More information about the survey can be found here.