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COMMISSIONED RESEARCH PROJECT
How community voices shaped the research funding opportunity
Applications are now open for NDRP's first Commissioned Research funded opportunity on career transitions for young people with disability.
When we started working with the Department of Social Services to fund this opportunity, we wanted to understand where research could make the most difference.
Many of us on the NDRP team and Board are people with disability. We know how often our community is asked to share the same stories. And how important it is that when people do share, the work is done to create systemic change.
That’s why we focused on what’s already known and listened where it mattered most.
IN A NUTSHELL
Young people with disability want careers that matter. This research is about making that happen.
How we got here
We’re people with disability too, and we know that consultation fatigue is real. So, we:
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Reviewed what the community has already told government over the past 10 years
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Met with disability organisations and researchers who said, ‘Learn from what works, don’t start from scratch.’
What the evidence shows
We know what helps; high expectations, early planning, real work experience, systems that link up.
The challenge is that it works for some young people, but not others. Research is needed to close that gap
What we're funding
3 x teams ($190,000 each for 12 months) to explore what helps young NDIS participants (15–25 years old) get the support that works.
There will be a specific focus on First Nations young people and those with complex communication needs.
We listened to what's already been said, and now we're funding research that can make change happen.
Apply by 5:00 PM AEDT 21 November 2025.
Click on the image to the right to download infographic (PDF)
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What lived experience evidence told us
We looked at ten years of submissions, case studies, and policy documents from people with disability, families, and advocacy organisations.
Watch the video >
'What lived experience evidence told us'
When young people get the right support, it makes all the difference.
“When I finished my work experience, I had a great report. This work experience was really helpful because it opened me up to work. It helped get me into a routine and gave me an idea of what work looks like when you go into the real world.”
Another shared how belief matters:
"Many people, including my schoolteachers, told me to just give up ... I'm currently in my second year of veterinary science and am going strong. I love university. I wish more people would just encourage us and believe in us."
The review also showed that post-school education, training, and work supports are not always consistent. There are opportunities to make these stronger so young people get what works more often and consistently.
Read the full review for detailed insights and what people with disability have said, or read the summary.
What this tells us about the research opportunity
The lived experience review tells us that young people want more than a job. They want a career that matters. The evidence shows what works and the challenges young people face.
Here’s what helps
High expectations | Early planning | Quality work experience | Good connections between schools, employers, government and services.
But it doesn’t happen for everyone.
Some young people get good support while others miss out.
The research will explore this gap and examine how services and systems are set up to support young people’s transitions to careers.
We're looking for research teams who can:
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Show what helps service providers deliver evidence-based supports
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Find out what supports young people to make informed choices about their futures, and
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Share recommendations that can drive change across many systems.
Priorities from Disability Representative Organisations
In June 2025, we met with representatives from seven key DROs, including Inclusion Australia, Children and Young People with Disability Australia Down Syndrome Australia, National Ethnic Disability Alliance, People with Disability Australia, Physical Disability Australia and Youth Disability Advocacy Service.
Watch the video >
'Priorities from Disability Representative Organisations'
They said research needs to:
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Close the gap between what we know and what happens in practice to make sure what works is delivered.
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Learn from the approaches that are working and find ways to grow them.
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Focus on which groups often miss out, like people with complex support needs, First Nations people, and people from diverse backgrounds.
They also suggested fresh ideas worth exploring, like peer mentoring and local employment hubs.
See the full DRO consultation findings for more on their recommendations.
What we heard from the roundtable
In July 2025, we brought together academics, policymakers, government and advocacy leaders.
Watch the video >
'What we heard from the roundtable'
The discussion showed strong evidence that programs like Ticket to Work and other placement initiatives are working well.
They show what’s possible when schools, employers and support services work together.
The group agreed:
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We don’t need more new programs. The priority is to grow and put into practice the programs we already know work.
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The big challenge is how to make this happen everywhere, not just in some places
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Systems matter. Education and employment services are the key places where change can have the biggest impact.
Read the roundtable summary for detailed discussions on scaling effective models and enabling systems change.
Research that reflects community priorities
Watch the video >
'Bringing it all together.'
All this feedback shaped the opportunity.
The community told us the research needs to focus on:
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Learning from what works, not testing more new programs.
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Groups who are often left out, especially First Nations young people and those with complex communication needs.
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How services and policies are set up, and what helps them deliver good support, and
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Solutions that work within current services and funding.
And that research must:
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Lead to real change, and
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Be by people with disability in named, paid roles.
OPPORTUNITY 1
Young NDIS Employment Assistance participants (15-25 years)
OPPORTUNITY 2
Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NDIS participants
OPPORTUNITY 3
Young NDIS participants with complex support and communication needs
Together, these opportunities will help bridge the gap between what we know works and what's happening for young people with disability.
Listening to our community
This process took time to get right.
We built on what was already known and worked closely with key groups. This way, the research reflects what really matters to the community, rather than just academic or policy ideas.
Instead of asking people to repeat their stories, we built on what had already been shared, lifted voices that are often missing, and worked together to see where research can make the biggest difference. This is disability-led research in practice; grounded in respect for our community's time, expertise, and lived experience.
Applications are open until 5 PM AEDT, 21 November 2025.
Our three opportunities
Our commissioned research will look at what works for young NDIS participants (aged 15–25) who receive employment assistance supports. It will explore what helps them make choices and what helps service providers deliver the best support.
The three funded opportunities reflect these priorities: