Annual NIISQ Insights: 2024-25

Overview

This year we focused on enhancing engagement, streamlining services and advancing research initiatives to improve participant outcomes.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact niisqcommunications@niis.qld.gov.au.

The data contained below reflects participants who were injured in motor vehicle accidents. For more information on how we assist people injured in work-related accidents, view our page on Work related accidents.

Highlights

During the 2024-25 financial year, we:

Engaged

• conducted and published our NIISQ participant survey results.
• achieved success with our Participant Reference Group (PRG), including onboarding new members into our ways of working and purpose, resetting the Terms of Reference and holding in-person and virtual engagement sessions to ensure co-design remains at the forefront of how we deliver.
• launched the inaugural NIISQ Agency Disability Service Plan (DSP) on 3 December 2024 at an International Day of People with Disability event.
• co-hosted two successful brain injury awareness events in Cairns and Toowoomba with the Queensland Brain Injury Collaborative, engaging with local clinicians and community members.
• introduced Service Approvals to streamline the NIISQ experience for participants and service providers. This introduction has resulted in faster and more efficient payment processing times for approved services aligned with participants’ MyPlans, which supports better outcomes.

Innovated

• launched NIISQ Direct, our new participant portal, to all participants and rolled-out additional functionality including reimbursements.
• continued our video series, travelling to various locations to connect with participants. These videos capture their powerful stories, filled with messages of hope and determination.
• rolled out our innovative SMART goal cards initiative to participants, including a user guide and video to assist in their planning activities.

Supported research

• In 2024-25, we commenced:
  • a new research partnership with the Hopkins Centre at Griffith University. The Centre was established in 2017 and has a strong record in disability and rehabilitation research, aligning with NIISQ’s research priorities in topics relevant to people with brain and spinal cord injuries.
  • a wheelchair study using virtual reality with University of Queensland. The study will work with consumers of lived experience to develop a tailored virtual reality application that is a safe and novel approach to selecting a motorised wheelchair.
  • a three-year Aus-InSCI Translation Project with Griffith University. The International Spinal Cord Injury (InSCI) Community Survey is the first ever worldwide survey for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community,
    and
  • we announced our support of a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Fellowship at Griffith University. The Fellowship aims to advance SCI treatment by developing a minimally invasive nerve bridge transplantation method and enhance the imaging protocol to address the challenge of visualising the injury site in the presence of metalwork.

On the horizon

In the coming financial year, we will continue:

• to elevate the participant experience and promote independence through further enhancements to the participant portal (NIISQ Direct) and release of an online provider portal.
• our investment in research and initiatives that will improve participant outcomes.
• our focus on harnessing innovative ways to enhance operational efficiencies in the way we work, leveraging existing and emerging technologies. We will conduct a review of attendant care costs, industry and interstate experience and internal practices. The Agency is proud to be a 2025 Partner of the Something Digital innovation conference
• to ensure sound risk management and governance regimes. Independent auditors will be recommending the Agency receive ISO27001 accreditation.
• to explore ways to help participants through learning from others and the resources and partnerships available through the Agency.

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Explore our graphs below to learn more about NIISQ’s current participant cohort.

Tip: When viewing this report on a smaller screen, click the labels on our graphs to view them at a larger size.

Participants

Applications received

When the NIISQ Agency receives an application to join the scheme, we review the application to determine eligibility. In 2024-2025, we received 177 applications, accepted 112 (on an interim basis), did not accept 55, and had 10 applicants pending decision.

Exited participants

People with eligible injuries enter the scheme as interim participants for up to two years and receive treatment, care and support funded by NIISQ to support their rehabilitation. During this period, we review the participant’s eligibility to remain in the scheme on a lifetime basis or to exit the scheme for various reasons.

Lifetime exited participants

For some participants, the treatment, care and support they have received has been effective in supporting a recovery that means they no longer meet the threshold for a serious personal injury that requires lifetime funding. After their lifetime eligibility assessment, a total of 166 participants exited the scheme as a result of the treatment, care and support funded by NIISQ, with 33 of them doing so in the past 12 months.

Lump sum exited participants

Participants who are eligible for lifetime funding might be eligible for a compulsory third party (CTP) insurance claim as well as NIISQ as part of their claim against the at-fault party. A total of 71 participants have exited the scheme by accepting lump sum payments from both the CTP insurer and NIISQ, with 25 of them doing so in the past 12 months.

Active participants

In terms of the current (active) participants in NIISQ, the number of lifetime participants continued to increase as expected. Lifetime participants now account for almost two-thirds of the total active participants by the end of the last financial year.

Injury type

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be the main injury type for the NIISQ participant cohort, regardless of location or demographic differences.

Participant role in motor vehicle accident

The scheme supports a range of participants who were injured in various circumstances on Queensland roads.

Participant age and gender

Young males aged 16-30 continue to be the major cohort for NIISQ participation.

Participant age and injury type

The cohort of participants with traumatic brain injury is relatively younger in comparison to other injury types, such as spinal cord injury.

Geographical profile

By the end of the financial year the majority of participants reside in the Greater Brisbane area, with the Sunshine Coast being the next highest area by geographical profile.

Payments for treatment, care and support

Payments by service type

More than 50% of service payments made on behalf of participants are for attendant, care and support which reflects the care and respite that is necessary for people with serious personal injuries.

Legal services and claims

Participant with CTP insurance claims

NIISQ is a no-fault scheme, which means people seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents may be eligible for treatment, care and support regardless of whether they caused the accident. For participants who were not at fault, they may be eligible for a CTP insurance claim in addition to NIISQ. Just over 40% of NIISQ participants also had a CTP insurance claim.

Lump sum eligibility

By the end of the 2024-2025 financial year, participants with a CTP insurance claim who are eligible to take a lump sum opted in the following way at conference:

• 102 participants have settled their CTP insurance claim.
• of those 102 participants, 80 accepted a lump sum from both the insurer and NIISQ.
• 22 participants opted to take the insurer lump sum but decided to stay in NIISQ.

102

have settled their CTP claim