What is a DPO/FO NDIS Provider?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has transformed how disability services are delivered across Australia, creating a diverse marketplace of providers. Within this landscape, Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) and Family Organisations (FOs) are emerging as significant players, bringing unique perspectives shaped by lived experience. My Supports, with its innovative approach to disability services, exemplifies how organisations led by people with disability can create more responsive and person-centred supports.

Defining DPO/FO Providers

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has recently formalised the definition of DPO/FO providers, recognising their distinctive contribution to the disability services sector. According to these definitions, DPO/FO providers must meet two essential criteria:

1. A demonstrated commitment to the Social Model of Disability
2. Operation by and for people with disability and/or their families, with at least 50% of the board or staff having lived experience of disability

This recognition acknowledges that organisations led by people with disability bring invaluable insights that can shape more effective and responsive services.

The Social Model of Disability

At the heart of the DPO/FO approach is the Social Model of Disability, which represents a fundamental shift in understanding disability. Unlike the Medical Model, which frames disability as a problem within the individual that needs to be ‘fixed’, the Social Model recognises that disability results from the interaction between individuals and environments that create barriers to participation.

This model emphasises:

• Removing societal, physical, and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disability from participating fully in society
• Enabling people with disability to live an ordinary life with the same opportunities and choices as everyone else
• Recognising that with appropriate supports and inclusive environments, people with disability can achieve their goals and aspirations

Why DPO/FO Providers Matter

DPO/FO providers bring distinct advantages to the NDIS marketplace, enhancing the quality and responsiveness of disability services:

• Diverse and End-User Focused Marketplace: DPO/FO providers ensure that the voices and needs of people with disability are at the centre of service design and delivery.
• Innovative, Person-Centred Approaches: With their unique understanding of disability experiences, these organisations often pioneer new approaches that better respect individual autonomy and preferences.
• Authentic Representation: The experiences and insights of people with disability and their families directly inform policies, practices, and support models, creating services that genuinely meet participants’ needs.

My Supports: A Pioneer in DPO/FO Principles

My Supports exemplifies the DPO/FO approach, with a significant percentage of staff bringing lived experience of disability. This firsthand understanding informs the organisation’s innovative service models, including:

• Neighbourhood Teams: A localised approach that connects participants with support workers in their community, fostering stronger relationships and more responsive care
• Individual Living Options (ILOs): Personalised housing solutions that enable participants to live in their preferred setting with appropriate supports

My Supports’ involvement in NDIS ILO trials and reference groups further demonstrates its commitment to shaping policy and practice through the lens of lived experience.

DPO/FO providers represent a significant evolution in the NDIS landscape, bringing the perspectives of people with disability to the forefront of service design and delivery. As the NDIS continues to mature, these organisations will play an increasingly important role in creating a more inclusive, responsive, and effective system. By embracing the principles of the Social Model and ensuring genuine representation of people with disability, DPO/FO providers like My Supports are helping to realise the transformative potential of the NDIS.