ABSTRACT
This chapter examines if the development of services is based on the findings of culturally relevant research, then these services have the potential to improve relationships and communication between service providers and Indigenous families of the child with a disability. This particularly applies to groups who are three times disadvantaged, such as Indigenous families with children who have disabilities in rural and remote areas. The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey recommends that the most effective, health programmes need to work within the community culture, work to build capacity and support community networks, and thus empower the community. Australia is a better place for Indigenous people with disabilities than it once was, but not as good as it might become. The NDIS has the potential to improve long-term outcomes for Indigenous families with young children with a disability, but it will need to be implemented in an innovative, creative and community-appropriate way to achieve these.
