Enhancing ‘navigator’ capability within the NDIS to improve social and economic participation outcomes for people with a disability

We are thrilled to announce The University of Western Australia collaboration with APM on an industry-focused PhD project aimed at addressing key challenges in the Disability Services and Navigation sector.

The project titled New Training Frameworks for NDIS Navigators roles within the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to improve the social, community and economic participation outcomes for people with a disability.

Through this research we aim to better understand the skills and capabilities needed by intermediary or navigator individuals in Intermediary or Navigator roles to more effectively support people with a disability (NDIS participants), with a key objective to develop and test new evidence-based training frameworks.

Leveraging the The University of Western Australia renowned expertise in Health and Human Services Education Research and APM's industry leadership in Human Services this project epitomises a collaborative approach that bridges the gap between academia and industry.

APM is excited to expand its partnership with The University of Western Australia to help us identify innovations that will further enhance the capability of our amazing workforce. Human Service is a highly dynamic industry. It is therefore important to continue to invest in developing best practice, evidence-based models and new training frameworks that can support our service delivery teams. At APM we recognize that investing in research and development like this PhD is an important way to develop our teams and ensure our customers and stakeholders continue to get the best possible services and outcomes.

Dr Kiah Evans "My 20+ year clinical and academic career has highlighted the critical role of trained professionals helping individuals with disabilities to identify support needs and implement personalized support plans. I am grateful for the opportunity to address real-world problems with APM, through Alex’s PhD project, which has significant policy impact and academic importance to UWA."

Alex Rutter "Thank you to APM, The University of Western Australia, Campus Plus, Australian Government Department of Education and the NDIA for this opportunity to complete an important PhD research project. I am excited to help support the further development of the intermediary or navigation profession, whose work can contribute significantly to addressing the social, community and economic accessibility and inclusion challenges still facing many people with a disability."

We aim to better understand the skills and capabilities needed by intermediary or navigator roles to more effectively support people with a disability (NDIS participants), with a key objective to develop and test new evidence-based training frameworks.