Strengths, Gaps, and Challenges in the Decision-Making Processes in the Design of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Australia

Andrew Joyce (), Gemma Carey and Fiona Buick
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Andrew Joyce: Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn 3122, Australia
Gemma Carey: Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
Fiona Buick: School of Business, University of New South Wales, Canberra 2600, Australia

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: This study examines the decision-making processes that were used in the development of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It draws on research that highlights that decision-making can be improved if organisations follow specific decision-making processes. This study sought to examine whether formal decision-making rules and processes were used in the development of the NDIS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 58 senior public servants between 2016 and 2021 in the Commonwealth government departments that had policy oversight and responsibility for both the design and implementation of the NDIS. The data showed that there were examples of data-driven decisions and risk analysis used, but also considerable gaps in decision-making processes. These gaps potentially resulted in poorer decision-making quality, which may have negatively impacted the design of the NDIS and could potentially explain some of the current problems with the scheme. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research to improve decision-making processes within public administration.

Keywords: decision-making processes; policy development; public administration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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