2024 was a stressful time for people with disability, as the possible impact of the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) legislation loomed ahead for most of the year. Implementation began on the 3rd of October, with the main reforms changing eligibility requirements and redefining what NDIS funding can and cannot cover.
As of January 2025, these NDIS changes have already altered the way that around 646,000 Australians receive support. And still more reforms are in development, with the next phase expected in March—when consultation for the support needs assessment tool begins. So, it’s a good idea to understand the current NDIS updates before the situation grows even more complicated.
What is the response to the NDIS reforms so far?
Since the NDIS reforms began to roll out, the disability community have been experiencing growing uncertainty around the changes to eligibility requirements, often feeling anxious that they will suddenly lose their funding and supports. And these are fair concerns, considering the increase in eligibility cancellations since July 2024.
Strict (and unscheduled) reassessments
In November, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) acting chief executive Scott McNaughton said that the agency was prioritising ‘unscheduled reassessments’ of eligibility. Apparently, the NDIA was sending out 1,000 reassessment letters every week, giving the recipients only 28 days to provide evidence of their eligibility.
The unclear path to proving evidence
Unfortunately, providing evidence isn’t straightforward. Firstly, the price of the required medical assessments are a real barrier, since many people who need access to the NDIS are on a disability pension or Newstart. Then, if participants can book in with the relevant allied health professional, it’s not a guarantee that they will know how to provide the correct documentation.
Muriel Cummins, founding director of the Occupational Therapy Society for Invisible and Hidden Disability, says, “We’re seeing people who have conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, which are lifelong, permanent and often degenerative conditions, receiving notices for eligibility reassessments. It’s a real shock for the participants, and it’s also a real challenge for us as therapists to understand what the NDIA is actually asking for.”
In January, a case surfaced where an administrative review tribunal said the NDIA’s approach to evidence requirements was ‘troubling’. The tribunal questioned why the NDIA was placing the burden onto the participant, rather than it being the NDIA’s responsibility to find evidence before revoking benefits.
Service gap appearing for participants losing NDIS funding
With so many people no longer qualifying for the NDIS, there needed to be a replacement for their essential support services. So, the federal government convinced the states and territories to set up and fund ‘foundational supports’, services that they plan to run from locations like health services and schools.
The foundational supports system is meant to be ready by the 1st of July 2025, but the government has still not decided what these supports actually are and how they will work. And the new legislation has already started reducing access and support for the NDIS.
As Jeff Smith, the chief executive of Disability Advocacy Network Australia, explained, without the safety net of foundational supports, suddenly removing all NDIS access could put people in vulnerable situations.
Will the new National Autism Strategy influence the NDIS?
While Autism Awareness Australia calls for immediate action to address the gaps in support for autistic children losing their NDIS funding, the federal government has just unveiled Australia’s first National Autism Strategy.
The seven-year plan aims to create ‘a safe and inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive’. However, these intentions do not align with the NDIS’s recent actions towards autistic participants. According to Autism Awareness Australia, 600 school-aged children with autism are being taken off the NDIS every week.
“One of the reasons there was a ‘blow out’ in costs for the NDIS was the severe underestimation of the prevalence of autism,” says Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor at La Trobe University, “Unfortunately, the blame was instead laid on unfounded statements that autism is over-diagnosed, when it is actually the other way around — it is severely underdiagnosed.”
Nicole Rogerson, CEO of Autism Awareness Australia, critiqued the strategy‘s lack of educational support and explained that this means early intervention support will only be accessible to a few autistic NDIS participants.
Looking for more information?
Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or a family member, an experienced support coordinator could provide reassurance and help you navigate the current and upcoming NDIS updates. The team at Space for Life provide a range of disability support services alongside support coordination and would be happy to talk things through. To learn more, just get in touch.
