HDR Candidate: Lenga, John


Title of Project Challenges refugees in Australia, who live with disability face when accessing support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Course of Study Doctor of Philosophy
Language of Instruction English
Abstract

This research is to understand the challenges refugees with disabilities confront when accessing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding package services. This study will explore the experiences of individuals with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities comprehensively to get an insight into issues refugees are facing when seeking NDIS funding. The national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) is Australia’s social policy legislated in 2013, as an ambitious reform policy in decades to improve the lives of people living with disabilities. The NDIS was founded on a philosophy of person-centred implementation, an innovative approach, and a move away from traditional funding and institutionalization of disability. The NDIS gives persons with disabilities an opportunity to self-manage funding to gain access to all social services, personal choice, and independence. NDIS has presented people with disabilities opportunities and challenges at the same time. Refugees with disabilities face substantial challenges in accessing NDIS services or funding packages. People with disabilities from a refugee background are poorly represented in the NDIS program (Zhou,2016). This research objective is to understand the challenges refugees with disabilities confront in accessing NDIS funding packages. The following question guides this research. What challenges do refugees in Australia, who live with disabilities face when accessing support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): A mixed-methods approach?