Providing a safe environment for NDIS participants

Review of causes and contributors to deaths of people with disability

This alert is to advise you of the findings of research undertaken by Professor Julian Trollor, Chair, Intellectual Disability Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry University of NSW. This research reviewed the causes and contributors to deaths of people with disability.

The research found strong and consistent themes relating to the risks and vulnerabilities of people with disability. Many of the findings are directly relevant to the provision of services, for instance a lack of support for preventative health care measures, limited use of communication plans, issues relating to the management of chronic health risks and a lack of awareness about how to respond to medical emergencies.

Professor Trollor makes a number of recommendations relating to these findings, including a number of practice improvement recommendations to reduce respiratory- and choking-related deaths, improve epilepsy management and reduce lifestyle risks.

This research provides us with a strong evidence base to take action to reduce identified risks to the lives of people with disability. As the regulator of quality and safeguards for the NDIS, we will take a number of actions over the next six months to prevent avoidable deaths and serious injuries. These actions focus on increasing NDIS providers’ and workers’ awareness and knowledge of best practice.

You can find more information about the research, its findings and our response on our website.

We have also engaged the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to undertake a complementary project to develop a summary report of mortality issues and trends that relate to people with disability. This report is due in the next few months.