People with disability could receive higher quality support as the federal government trials a program that pays service providers based on whether they achieve results for participants.
Those on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) currently pay providers for their service, but this pilot will attempt to blend two payment options.
Providers will be paid for supports over a period of time and receive an outcome-based payment when they help achieve an NDIS participant's goal.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says this pilot, which will begin in 2025, is an opportunity to test different ways to encourage services to deliver better quality support for people with disability.
Bill Shorten says the pilot will test ways to encourage better quality support for NDIS users. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
"We need to give participants more options in the future on how they engage providers and how they may pay them," he said.
The government is co-designing a payment model with NDIS participants, disability representative and carer organisations and peak bodies.
People with high and complex needs are the target of another two pilot programs, where select providers will deliver resources to help them live more independently.
"We want all NDIS participants to receive high-quality supports, and we must ensure we retain experienced providers and support coordinators who have significant expertise in high-needs markets," Mr Shorten said.
These trials are part of the federal government's broader attempts to streamline the NDIS.
The NDIS supports about half a million Australians, funding and supporting people with a disability to help improve their quality of life.
But without reforms, the program's costs are expected to balloon to more than $50 billion per year by 2025/26, exceeding the annual cost of Medicare.
Legislation that would cap NDIS growth to 8 per cent a year passed Parliament in August, but people with disability remain concerned that the changes could push them off the scheme.
The laws includes a reassessment process and tighter budget measures for participants.
It also lets the minister determine what supports are provided under the scheme.