NDIA Utilizes Machine Learning to Expedite NDIS Participant Plans

In 2025, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has been utilizing machine learning to help create draft plans for NDIS participants. According to documents obtained by Guardian Australia, the agency has been using this form of artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare initial budget proposals for participants, with the goal of speeding up the process.

The NDIA has clarified that the machine learning recommendations are only used to assist human delegates, who make the final decisions on NDIS plans. The agency's AI policy states that "AI tools must not access participant records" without explicit authorization. Additionally, the NDIA has been trialing Microsoft's Copilot AI for internal tasks like emails and meetings, but not for direct interactions with participants or funding decisions.

Experts have raised concerns about the potential risks of "automation bias," where planners may be influenced by AI recommendations, especially if they face time constraints or pressure to meet certain targets. Dr. Georgia Van Toorn from the University of New South Wales emphasizes the importance of human delegates being properly trained and supported to exercise their discretion and judgment when using the machine learning-generated recommendations.

NDIS participant and disability advocate Dr. Stevie Lang Howson echoes these concerns, stressing the need for staff to be "equipped and given time to meaningfully make our plans suit our needs as individuals." The NDIA has acknowledged the need for robust access controls, regular audits, and employee training to mitigate the risks associated with using AI tools.