Texas

I just wrapped up a visit to Texas exploring the disability support sector in the US.

Over the past week I:

– Attended a 3 day national provider conference

– Met with frontline staff and leadership teams

– Spent time inside a Texas State Supported Living Center speaking directly with residents and workers, aswell as a private pay institution.

A few early observations:

1. The scale of the US system is massive—but highly fragmented

2. Workforce challenges are universal, but approached very differently

3. There’s a strong institutional legacy still shaping parts of the system

4. NDIS funding is much better than other countries

What stood out most wasn’t just the differences—but the similarities.

Across both the US and Australia, providers are asking the same core questions:

How do we deliver better outcomes with limited workforce?

How do we balance compliance with genuine care?

How do we build systems that actually support the people using them?

I’m now reflecting on what lessons (both good and bad) we can bring back into the Australian context—especially as we continue to evolve under the NDIS and consider what skills Novella can take to Texas.

Keen to connect with anyone working across disability, policy, or provider operations—particularly those with US experience.

What’s one thing you think Australia is getting right (or wrong) right now?