Department of Communities, Disability Services and Disability Coalition

NDIS in WA Conversation

9 and 10 June 2017

Evaluation Report

Contents

Introduction

Survey questions and answers

Did you attend The NDIS in WA Conversation on 9 and 10 June 2017?

If you did not attend The NDIS in WA Conversation, please tell us why.

Did you know about the other ways to be involved in the event?

If you used Loomio, what was your experience?

If you used the livestream videos, what was your experience?

Oftheworkshops you attended, please rank your experience

If you attended any other workshop, please rank your experience

Are there any topicsyou would have liked to discuss that were not in the program?

How did you find out about The NDIS in WA Conversation?

Please rate your experience

Were your accessibility needs met?

Please tell us what else you need to make events accessible.

Introduction

The Disability Coalition and the Department of Communities, Disability Services hosted the NDIS in WA Conversation event on 9 and 10 June 2017.

The event was advertised throughout Western Australia and people were invited to register their interest to attend. Almost 700 people registered their interest. Due to the limited number of place available not everyone was given a place.

People who registered their interest were invited to complete a survey. We were keen for everyone to give us feedback about their experience of the organising process as well as the event.People who didn’t come to the event were also invited to share their ideas about how they would like to get information and be involved in the future.

The survey was available on paper, online and in Easy Read format. People could complete the survey in person orover the telephone.

A total of 116 surveys were completed. The information collected from the survey has been de-identified for this report. This information will help us to better meet people’s needs in future engagement activities.

Survey questions and answers

Did you attend The NDIS in WA Conversation on 9 and 10 June 2017?

116 people answered this question
73 people answered Yes
43 people answered No
SeeFigure 1 below

Figure 1: Did you attend The NDIS in WA Conversation on 9 and 10 June 2017?

If you did not attend The NDIS in WA Conversation, please tell us why.

44 people answered this question
27 people registered but were not offered a place
13 people who had to cancel
SeeFigure 2below

Figure 2: Did you attend The NDIS in WA Conversation on 9 and 10 June 2017?

Did you know about the other ways to be involved in the event?

43 people answered this question
27 people did not know about the other ways to be involved in the event
11 people who knew about other ways to be involved
SeeFigure 3below.

Figure 3: Did you know about the other ways to be involved in the event?

If you used Loomio, what was your experience?

3 people said they found their experience of Loomio as “Poor”
1person said they found it difficult to understand and to find where Loomio was used, they found Loomio was not the appropriate way to respond.

If you used the livestream videos, what was your experience?

2people said their experience of the livestream videos was “Poor”1 person said their experience of the livestream videos was “Average”.

What did you enjoy about The NDIS in WA Conversation?

People were invited to tick more than one answer
76 people answered this question
“Meeting other people” was the box ticked 53 times
“Discussing issues with other people” was the box ticked 52 times
“Learning new information” was the box ticked 49 times
SeeFigure 4below.

Figure 4: What did you enjoy about The NDIS in WA Conversation?

Here as some of the things people had to say about the NDIS in WA Conversation.

“The fact that we could network with similar people on different aspects of the disability spectrum was empowering and allowed us to think about avenues that we had not before.”

“A sense and feeling of being heard.”

“I felt heard with my points that I got to share in sessions or on the white board and online, I felt cared and catered to at this event.”

Oftheworkshops you attended, please rank your experience

70 people answered this question
People were able to rate or make comments about a number of workshops
The Mental Health workshop was rated “Excellent” by 21.3 percentof the people who attended that workshop
38.4percent of people whoattended the People with Diverse Backgrounds and Abilities workshop rated it as “Very Good”
40 percent of people whoattended the Presentations and Q and A on Housing and Accommodation workshop rated it as “Good”
SeeFigure 5on the next page.

Here as some of the things people had to say about the NDIS in WA Conversation workshops.

“Multicultural aspects were well discussed”.

“Excellent for those like us who share-manage and self-manage some aspects of care. Also helpful to those on our table who had no idea that this was possible and that they could have a say in the life of their family member with a disability.”

“So empowering for people who have never heard that they can have a say in their child’s / family members’ life finally.”

“I felt the NDIS provided an opportunity for all who were able to attend, the experience of being able to express their concerns and ideas.”

“Great discussions and people's issues and questions were able to be answered.”

Figure 5: Of the workshops you attended, please rank your experience.

If you attended any other workshop, please rank your experience

70 people answered this question
The Question and Answer room was rated:

“Excellent” by 6 percent of the people who visited the room
“Very Good” by 18 percent of the people who visited the room
“Good” by 26 percentof the people who visited the room

SeeFigure 6below.

Figure 6: If you attended any other workshops, please rank your experience

Here are some of the things people had to say about the other NDIS in WA Conversation rooms.

“It was friendly and sociable.”

“When seeking information for a problem help was given by one of the presenters in a thorough manner.”

“Had great support given.”

“I found the layout of tea and coffee tables were impossible for someone in a wheel chair was inaccessible due to the fact that the paper cups were set on at the back of the table on a raised section. I saw what was happening and took the opportunity to rearrange the layout to make it easier for disabled attendants to be able to access the cups tea sugar and coffee.”

Are there any topicsyou would have liked to discuss that were not in the program?

69people answered this question
45 people answered No
24 answered Yes.
People were most interested in talking in the future about how the NDIS works with other supports and services.

Here as some of the things people had to say about other topics.

“Mediating between Centrelink and NDIS.”

“I'd like someone from the Taxation Department and from a superannuation organisation to talk about issues involved with self-managingand paying carers.”

“Employment supports and NDIS.”

How did you find out about The NDIS in WA Conversation?

A total of 67 people answered this question
58.2 percent of people found out through the Disability Services
SeeFigure 7below.

Figure 7: How did you find out about The NDIS in WA Conversation?

Please rate your experience

People were invited to rate their experience of the different aspects of the event.

Registration process

64 percent rated the Registration process as “Good” or “Very Good”
See Figure 8 below.

Figure 8: Registration Process

Travel to and from the event

39 percent rated their experience of travel to and from the event as “Very good”
35 percent who rated their experience as “Good”
See Figure 9 below.

Figure 9: Travel to and from the event

Date and time

41 percent of people rated the date and time as “Good”
30percentof people rated the date and time “Very Good”
SeeFigure 10below.

Figure 10: Date and time

Venue

35 percent of people rated the venue“Excellent”
35 percent of people rated the venue “Very good”
25 percent of people rated the venue “Good”.
See Figure 11below.

Figure 11: Venue

Written and visual material

34 percent of people rated the written and visual material “Very good”
27percent rated the material “Excellent”
26 percentrated the material “Good”

Here are some of the comments people made in response to this question:

“The only problem was having interpreters talking at the same time as the speakers understand that their role is essential but it was hard for us trying to listen to the speakers with the interpreters talking as well.”

“My thumb drive that I got to bring home with all the information on it doesn't work :( I'm absolutely devastated, and would love to get a new copy as there was soo much information I would love access to!”

See Figure 12below.

Figure 12: Written and visual material

Helpfulness of the staff

42 percent of people rated the Helpfulness of the staff “Excellent”
28percent rated Helpfulness of the staff as “Very Good”
27 percentrated Helpfulness of the staff as “Good”
See Figure 13below.

Figure 13: Helpfulness of the staff

Were your accessibility needs met?

65 people answered this question
62 people answered Yes
3 answered No.

Please tell us what else you need to make events accessible.

People were asked what else they need to make events accessible. The most common theme was about the venue and its accessibility to good transport links. Here are some of the suggestions people made.

“For presenters to be able to address children over 10 years old as well as adults”.

“Going to a venue that was easy to remember and in reach at a central point”.

“For those who don't drive, venue near train stations or accessibility by Transperth bus is very helpful”.

“More lead time; information in advance”.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your experience at theevent?

Generally, people said they appreciated this event and most found it to be of use or benefit. Here are some of the things people told us.

“I was very pleased to be able to attend the event and speak to many people and obtain information which we had not known about previously.”

“Being able to speak with others having a disability and not being afraid.”

“Good event but interested in how it can transfer down to local coordinators as there is still some disconnect between what is being said at these events and what is being delivered at ground level.”

“More organised events such as this.”

“A very good event but too much information to process.”

“Informative. Participation of the whole group must be more.”

A few respondents cited challenges, disappointment they experienced or irrelevance to them personally. The following are examples:

“I had trouble hearing in both the smaller rooms and the main convention room.”

“Unfortunately no one seems to know how the NDIS will affect them or their grants that they have.”

“As I am in a National NDIS trial site, I found the conference very skewed towards WA NDIS, so things like LC issues didn't apply.”

If you can't attend a face to face event how would you like to get information or be involved?

The majority of people said email was the best way for them to get information. People also suggested to engage online, including telepresence, live feeds, podcasts and Youtube.

Where do you live?

72 percent of people said they lived in the Perth metropolitan area
11 percent said they lived in the South-west
10 percent said they lived in Peel
See Figure 9below.

Figure 14: Where do you live?

Are you a person with disability or are you a family member or carer of a person with disability and/or mental health issues?

68.9 percentof people said they were family member or carer of someone with a disability and/or mental health issues.

How would you like to be involved in the future?

103 people answered this question
People ticked a number of boxes
74. 8 percent said, ‘I want to receive information’
60.2 percent said, ‘I want to attend information sessions’
46.6 percent said, ‘I’m not sure but let me know about opportunities’
SeeFigure 10below.

Figure 15: How would you like to be involved in the future?

Please tell us your ideas for how we can get people involved in talking about the NDIS?

65 people answered this question
There were many topics that people said they were interested in talking about.

Here are some of the comments and suggestions.

School and young people

“Parents meeting at school.”

“Needs to be more advertised. We know a few people (with disabled kids) that had not heardabout it.”

“With people through school.”

Co-design

“Consultation BEFORE execution.”

“Engage the services of a consultancy organisation like Thinkplace Global. they specialise in engaging the views of many stakeholders to co-design solutions to complex problems. It is a highly specialised skillset - don't try to do it without using such a service.”

“Convince us that we will be heard.”

“First of all consumer Engagement and Participation needs to be open to all people and different ways of engagement and participation need to be explored. There are many ways that this can be explored. Advertise in the media both written and digital to ask people how they want to engage and participate. Allow people to set the agendas, ask the people with the lived experience what they feel they need on the agenda. Make sure there is funding to enable people to participate who can't afford to.”

Small, informal groups

“More workshop groups and peer support local informal gatherings.”

“Small groups with carers there too to get the answers to our questions. Each person has a different disability from a different cause. General presentations are often more confusing and sometimes more stress comes during the speech as not understanding or hearing about your condition.”

“Open forums. P2P networks. Social media. Coffee catch ups”

“Information sessions could be advertised to the general community not just stakeholders.”

“Having conversations, in shopping centres / leisure centres / libraries / pubs / TAB venues.”

Local Coordination

“Get sessions for families organised by LC offices.”

“Smaller groups with our local coordinator.”

Information dissemination

“Thorough discussion with others with a disability and their carers. Providing written information about the progress of the NDIS services to WA as the scheme develops. As there is so much happening which those involved do not hear about and it would be helpful.”

“Have a forum which provides information to attendees on what is intended as being done/provided.”

Social media and online

“Phone calls, messenger, face to face meetings, group meetups, skype/Facetime.”

“Group chatting on Facebook.”

“Radio, TV adverts, Email and internet advertising through Facebook.”

“Send out newsletters. Use Facebook. Get young people in groups.”

“I think more use of social media would be a good idea, though I acknowledge that is not without risks.”

“E-mail bulletins would be helpful.”

Other systems

“It has to be more involved in Centrelink. More clear links so systems talk to each other.”

“Liaising with Centrelink, or have representatives in Centrelink.”

Regional

“Regional Community Resource Centres to host NDIS information sessions/workshops.”