NDIS in the balance: How changes are shaking the foundation

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been a beacon of hope for many Australians living with disabilities, offering them the support and services they need to lead fulfilling lives. However, recent reforms and changes to the NDIS have sent ripples of concern through the disabled community, leaving many to wonder about the future of their care and support.

As we navigate the complexities of these reforms, it’s crucial for those who may be directly affected or have loved ones who rely on the NDIS, to understand what’s at stake and how these changes might impact their lives.

646,000 Australians depend on the NDIS, and recent changes could affect them all. Image Source: truthseeker08 / Pixabay

The NDIS rollercoaster: A timeline of tension

The end of 2024 marked a period of significant upheaval for the NDIS. New legislation began to take effect in October, introducing new guidelines on what can and cannot be funded, updated early intervention requirements, and more. These changes have already started to alter the support system for some 646,000 Australians who depend on the $35 billion program.

However, the reforms are far from over. March has been identified as a critical month, with consultations expected on the support-needs assessment tool—a framework designed to determine a person’s impairments and the amount of public funding they should receive. The tight timelines and limited space for consultation have raised concerns among advocates, who argue that the promised co-design of crucial parts of the new system is nearly impossible.

The uncertainty of foundational supports

One of the key issues at hand is the concept of ‘foundational supports’, which are meant to be provided by the states and territories as agreed upon by the national cabinet over a year ago. These supports are supposed to be in place by July 1st. Yet, despite the new legislation already restricting access to the NDIS, there is little consensus on what these foundational supports entail, let alone the infrastructure needed to deliver them.

A new minister and a looming election

Adding to the anxiety is the appointment of a new NDIS minister and the anticipation of a federal election. These political shifts have heightened the sector’s worries, particularly as people with disabilities fear receiving a letter from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) informing them of potential ineligibility for the scheme—a scheme they were assured would support them for life.

The legal quagmire of eligibility

A recent decision by the administrative review tribunal has called into question the legal basis for the NDIA’s practice of reversing the onus of proof of eligibility onto participants. This practice, which began before the new laws came into effect, has been compared to the robodebt debacle, where welfare recipients were forced to prove they did not owe a debt to the commonwealth. The stress and frustration this causes for individuals and allied health workers alike cannot be overstated.

Allied health professionals left in the dark

Allied health professionals, who play a critical role in providing the documentation needed for eligibility and funding assessments, feel left out of the loop by the government and the NDIA. The rapid pace of reform has left them scrambling to understand what is required of them, even as they see clients with permanent and degenerative conditions being called in for reassessments.

The provider perspective: Financial strain and care withdrawals

On the provider end, delays in plan reviews are causing significant financial strain and forcing difficult decisions about the withdrawal of care. Rodney Jilek, founding director of Community Home Australia, shares a harrowing account of having to move a client to a hospital after exhausting all funding and facing the untenable expectation of providing care for free.

The NDIA’s response

In light of these issues, the new NDIS minister, Amanda Rishworth, has expressed her intention to meet with representatives of the disability community to discuss the scheme. Meanwhile, an NDIA spokesperson has acknowledged the need for improvement in the process and indicated that changes are on the horizon.

As the reforms continue to take shape, we’d love to know how they’ve affected you. Have the NDIS changes made a difference to you or someone you know? Your stories and insights are invaluable as we continue to advocate for a fair and supportive system for all Australians.

Also read: Melbourne woman’s legal battle with NDIS: What her case could mean for you

Abegail Abrugar
Abegail Abrugar
Abby is a dedicated writer with a passion for coaching, personal development, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. With a strong background in leadership, she provides practical insights designed to inspire growth and positive change in others.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I think that the ‘worst’ component of the current situation is the uncertainty felt by current recipients.
    The new Minister NEEDS to make sure that ‘practical re-assurance’ to existing participants is prioritised ! The current patients/carers have (more than) enough to deal with, without the ongoing uncertainty !!

  2. I was a case manager with Community Options (and had to be qualified and have a degree to have this position. Our team consisted of 5 team members 1 of which was the person who did the assessments using the ONI (On Going Needs Identification) to provide information and monitoring for Case Managers if they were eligible for assistance. We covered an area of approximately 30,000 square kilometers entailing remote areas and Indigenous Communities.
    Case Managers then met with participants and would assess the needs and refer to other services that were individually government funded, such as Homecare, day center Programs & individual supports from these centers. Most people who attended these day programs weren’t on any other supports and could turn up if they wanted or not and they would pay a small fee to attend (especially for outings). As Case Managers we were able to react straight away in emergencies and could contact Commonwealth Carer Respite or even pay for this out of our funding. Having a person in need of low level equipment we could supply out of our stock that we maintained and we would do a referral to the Hospital OT. The services were all usually based in each town and would know the person. ADHC would have olny high needs but we often had to supplement this as they were ONLY goal focused which often didn’t cover additional areas of a persons life.
    Working as a COS with the NDIS I have noticed inclusion has declined a lot as participants don’t always have the funding to attend activities and are missing out. Previously less staff were required as everyone worked together not having to rely on one allocated worker. I feel this has actually isolated people more and given them less choice in what they do and we as NON Disability know we change our plans constantly without even thinking of it.
    Plus:a lot of unskilled people are working with our vulnerable people and there are a lot of people who REALLY need help and for some unknown reason don’t receive it and then there are soooo many who are using the system who are routing it to have their own workers as they call them that really would fit into a minimal housekeeping service.

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