Support for researchers

The NDIA is committed to supporting researchers and developing partnerships with academic institutions and research bodies to drive and shape the disability research agenda.

Services we offer on request include:

  • Access to tailored NDIS data (summary or unit record data) 
  • Access to NDIA staff (employees, contractors and volunteers) as:
    • study subjects in research; or
    •  project team members, steering committee experts, working parties or similar
  • Collaboration or partnership on research or evaluation 

For more information, please refer to the External Researcher Request Policy:

Accessing NDIS data

The NDIA has data publicly available on our Data and insights page.

For information about NDIS data sharing for research, please review the NDIS Public Data Sharing Policy.

This document explains:

  • the type of data we share
  • what data is not available
  • the principles of NDIS data
  • why data sharing is important
  • how to gain access to NDIS data

If you are requesting access to tailored data (summary or unit record data), see information below on how to make a request. If you are requesting unit record data, please also read the cyber security requirements:

Making a research request

For access to tailored summary-level NDIS data:

For access to tailored unit record NDIS data, NDIA staff, or to request a collaboration or partnership with the NDIA:

Your duties as a researcher:

  • Follow the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research .
  • Make sure all data and information is used confidentially so that privacy is maintained according to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
  • Other than information in the public domain, you do not disclose—except to the NDIA—any confidential information relating to the Agreement or the Research Project without written approval from the NDIA. 
  • Ensure all required ethical, administrative and governmental approvals relating to the Research Project are in place before commencing. These approvals must be provided to the NDIA upon request.
  • Provide a Final Project Closure Report to the NDIA on completion.

For more information on the use of NDIA tailored data, please read our full terms and conditions:

Current partnerships and approved requests

Approved external research requests are listed in the summary log:

Below is a list of some of our current collaborations with academic institutions and research bodies:

TRANSMIT Study: Multifaceted knowledge TRANSlation iMproving function in Cerebral Palsy:

  • Cerebral Palsy Alliance and the University of Sydney are leading this project and will develop a resource to improve outcomes for children living with cerebral palsy. The TRANSMIT project is funded through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnerships for Better Health. This project will develop a mobile health aid that will help parents and carers of children living with cerebral palsy to better understand and access evidence-based supports.

Understanding the population health, and health service needs of people with neuropsychiatric disorders:

  • University of New South Wales Sydney are leading this large data project focused on people with neuropsychiatric conditions. The project will explore health profiles, risk factors, as well as health interventions, such as services, treatments, costs, programs and policies, including for prevention. The project aims to build a better understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders and will provide information to support the improvement of services for individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders.

KeE (Key-eLearning-Early Diagnosis): A randomised controlled trial of adaptive eLearning and virtual patient simulation for early diagnosis of cerebral palsy:

  • University of Sydney are leading this trial and will test the effectiveness of two innovative e-learning modules using virtual patients and continuous assessment on physician practices (to diagnose Cerebral Palsy accurately and early, effectively communicate the diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy to parents, and facilitate early access requests to early intervention). This research aims to enhance best practice, early intervention and parent support to improve outcomes for infants and their families. This project is partly funded by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and postgraduate scholarships.

Mapping Participation – An analysis of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) data in Australia:

  • University of Technology Sydney are conducting this research to understand what types of SDA have been built across Australia and the locations of those SDA properties in relation to things such as transport, greenspace, services, entertainment and shops. The research findings will provide important information in the move towards greater inclusion and participation of people with disability in the community. This project is funded by the Achieve Foundation.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments:

  • University of Queensland is leading this project and will develop technology, training and guidelines that make the internet more accessible to people with communication disability. This project aims to reduce the barriers to internet based essential health and support services for people with disability. This project is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.

Cost, effectiveness and access for psychosocial disability.

  • The University of Sydney is leading this project in partnership with the NDIA and focuses on NDIS access, effectiveness, efficiency, and outcomes for participants with psychosocial disability and take into account how the NDIS interacts with state and territory health and social care systems. The research will map the experience of participants within the NDIS as it currently operates and use new data to model improvements to the Scheme. The research will be used to develop a program logic that may inform future psychosocial support programs. The project is funded through an ‘Australian Research Council Industry Laureate Fellowship Scheme’ grant. For further information about this grant project, please visit the ARC website.

Examining the links between disability support, crime and release from custody.

  • The Centre for Innovative Justice (CIJ) at RMIT has been engaged by the National Disability Insurance Agency to examine the links between disability supports, risk and release from custody. This research project looks at people with disability who commit serious and high risk offences. It aims to better understand the relationships between these factors and explore models of support for this group of people.

This page current as of
28 November 2024