Built With Understanding: Why Lived Experience Matters at Kismet

That's why we're proud that 22% of our team have experience living with a disability or lived experience supporting family members living with a disability, according to our internal workforce data. 

For us, this is more than a statistic. It reflects something we believe is important: people with lived experience should have a voice in shaping disability services. 

Every person's experience of disability is different. 

Individual experiences can bring valuable insights into the everyday challenges people face. 

It might be understanding how frustrating it is to repeat your story, how confusing NDIS funding can feel, or how important it is to have someone listen when you need help. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission explains that people with a disability have diverse experiences and that sharing information about disability in the workplace is generally a personal choice. 

Lived experience doesn't mean knowing everyone's journey. But it can help us ask better questions, challenge assumptions and see things from different perspectives. 

Think of it like building a bridge. The people who use it every day can offer insights that help make it work better for everyone. 

We value these perspectives alongside the professional skills and knowledge of our wider team. 

We believe a disability services organisation should reflect and listen to the community it serves. 

That means recognising the value of lived experience, respecting different needs and making space for different voices. 

Understanding disability doesn't just happen when we speak with participants. It is also be part of the conversations happening within our own organisation. 

We believe understanding should lead to practical improvements. 

At Kismet, we're focused on making NDIS plan management simpler, clearer and easier to use. 

Our participant dashboard is designed to help people understand and manage their funding. 

Participants can use the app or web portal to: 

• Track their funding: See their NDIS budgets, spending and available funding. 
• Review invoices: Check invoices and approve or reject them before payment. 
• Plan ahead: Use budget forecasts and alerts to help manage spending. 
• Manage reimbursements: Submit receipts through the app. 

These tools are designed to give participants more information and control over their NDIS supports. 

Our plan management services have also been shaped by feedback from participants and support coordinators. 

We don't claim that lived experience alone makes these services better. But we believe it is an important perspective to include as we continue learning and improving. 

Having lived experience within our team is important, but it's only part of the picture. 

The people who use our services should always have a say in how those services work. 

The NDIS Practice Standards on rights and responsibilities emphasise that participants should be supported to make informed choices, exercise control and receive information in ways they can understand. 

These principles matter to us. 

At Kismet, we want participants to feel informed, respected and heard. 

That means listening to feedback, explaining things clearly and recognising that no two participants have exactly the same needs. 

We believe disability services should be shaped with people with disability, not simply designed for them. 

Our team's lived experience is one part of that commitment. 

As Kismet grows, we want to keep listening, learning and building services that reflect the needs of the people who use them. 

Because good plan management isn't only about invoices, budgets and payments. 

It's about understanding the people behind the plans.