Percentage of Aboriginal National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with an approved plan in the year

Published by NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

Accuracy of Indigenous Status Data

• The data quality of Indigenous Status in current collections is poor for several reasons. Firstly, the number of individuals indicating that they are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander may not be an accurate count, but an over- or under-representation depending on certain factors. Secondly, the data quality of Indigenous Status is poor due to the variance and inadequacies of the question/s currently being asked. 
• The accuracy in the representation of Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islanders is determined by whether a person will identify as such on a data collection form. This is influenced by a number of factors, including the kind of data collected, the reasons for the collection, who will have access to the information, who the collector is, the way it is collected, and the perception of why the information is collected. These factors are compounded by the structural systems of racism, which have led to power imbalances and relationships founded on mistrust. For systems of intervention, such as Child Protection, being identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander is a layered decision. These factors all influence the level of accuracy of the information currently collected.
• The current question/s included in data collections is also inadequate. Most commonly, this is seen as a yes or no reply to Indigenous Status and provides very limited information. A person’s Indigenous status is more complex than a yes or no reply. It is a starting point to seek more information about a person’s identity. To begin addressing this, Transforming Aboriginal Outcomes, is implementing Family is Culture recommendation 77, which will result in the re-design and collection of identifying Indigenous information. This more detailed suite of questions will improve the quality of the data collected and be more likely to attract an accurate representation of people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Multiple projects are also underway across DCJ to address the recommendations made in the Family is Culture Report to increase both the practice and policy positions of DCJ in regard to the identification and de-identification of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. The recommendations have been made to increase consistency, improve practice and ensure the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty guide the design of all future data elements.
• NSW Government is committed to enabling  the principles of Indigenous Data Governance as per the NSW Data Strategy. Aboriginal-led Governance structures will be formed as a result of the NSW Governments Commitment to the Family is Culture Report, recommendation 2, and Closing the Gap Priority Reform Four, Priority Key action area 2.Please note that IDG was not applied to this data asset.

Data Source:

• NDIA Scheme Actuary - Access and plan status for NSW participants