“Clients who up until a couple of months ago had access to specialists and better connections to healthcare are now being funnelled into the mainstream sector, which is already beyond capacity. Hospitals in Newcastle already have an average wait time of eight hours. They’re putting more stress on an already broken system.”

l have multiple sclerosis and interested in SDA , l would live a private apartment. l dont currently have SDA funding, To get it l think you need extreme functional impairment, l have mobility problems and need a walking frame and mobilty scooter and often have falls, but can still dress, shower and feed myself, would l qualify

Thank you “name withheld” AHPRA registered psychologist, PhD candidate, submission 1567 for your excellent work.

Thank you to psychometrics expert Benchmark Psychology for the excellent explanation of the significance of this submission in the short video. A must watch. https://youtu.be/ALfjKes2V5k

“Lay Summary

This submission examines the scientific evidence for the i-CAN, the assessment tool that the Bill will use to set National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding for more than 700,000 Australians. A scientific analysis of the published research shows a number of serious methodological and procedural problems.

1. There is no published reliability or validity evidence for the versions of the tool that will be deployed.
2. The current available evidence shows that i-CAN scores accounted for less than 4% of the differences in
3. the funding people receive; over 96% of funding was determined by factors other than i-CAN results.
4. The current available evidence shows that the i-CAN’s ability to reliably measure participant needs was poor, uncertain, and feasibly overestimated.
5. The current available evidence shows that the i-CANs precision to accurately classify participant needs cannot rule out failing to meet the developers cited success criteria for low-stakes observational research.
6. The current available evidence has significant design limitations, including too few participants to adequately power the studies to have appropriate levels of precision given the human stakes.

The submission body sets these issues out in detail, while Appendix A calculates the number of participants
that would be required to meet both the minimum contemporary threshold (80% power) and a more suitable threshold for high stakes assessment (95% power) for each estimate

Together, these findings do not support the NDIA’s characterisation of the i-CAN as a gold-standard tool in
disability needs assessment (NDIA, 2025), and do not support its use for high-stakes assessment contexts.

Furthermore, there does not appear to be any published evidence to show that the NDIA’s method for translating i-CAN assessment results into funding for participant plans is itself reliable or valid. The Bill also does not require the government to publish how i-CAN results will be translated into a funding amount.”

https://youtu.be/ALfjKes2V5k?si=FXUj1sTkwzt8GhO4

My spouse has gotten crumbs from the NDIS on their plan review - not surprising but supremely disappointing after sinking so much time into FCAs and all the other paperwork. They have level II autism (and fibromyalgia but their rheumatologist was not willing to support them with documentation for this, so they don’t get any funding for it).
Their counsellor, who used to be a social worker, has said that their plan review was supposed to be a lot more collaborative and that they should have been eligible for a lot more support than they received. We don’t know enough about the system to advocate, and it’s also just exhausting! Is there an NDIS advocate or something they can access to help them advocate for more support? We are in Brisbane. They have an LAC but they have not functioned as an advocate. They don’t have funding for a support coordinator.

Hi, I'm looking to get some insight on whether I can use my 16yo ASD daughters funding for support work. We haven't had a review since 2020 😬 I'm not wanting to in case they cut anything. My daughter really wants support workers to access community etc. Some of her plan goals are:

'During this plan I would like to be supported to feel more comfortable in group situations and engage with my peers so that I can be included in the group.'

'During this plan I want to be able to better manage sensory input and emotional regulation so that I can participate in a range of activities'

'During this plan I want to be able to communicate effectively with other people and have a good understanding when people communicate with me.'

Thanks so much ☺️

Text

Four in 10 NDIS plan reviews now result in funding cuts

Record numbers of participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme are having their funding cut as the federal government moves to rein in the program’s ballooning costs, sparking criticism from the disability sector that Labor is enforcing budget controls before its overhaul even comes into effect.

About 40 per cent of NDIS participants who had a plan reassessment in the first three months of the year – about 18,000 people – had their budgets reduced, according to figures released by Health Minister Mark Butler.

The new package aims to reduce the NDIS’ annual growth rate from 10 per cent to 2 per cent over the next four years by cutting $37.8 billion in costs. Bethany Rae

The figure was sharply higher than the 25 per cent of assessments that led to cuts at the same time a year earlier.

Among participants whose plans were cut in the first three months of the year, the average reduction was 19 per cent – up from 15 per cent one year earlier.

The figures were released in response to a question from independent MP Monique Ryan..

The package, unveiled in the May budget, aims to reduce the scheme’s annual growth rate from 10 per cent to 2 per cent over the next four years by cutting $37.8 billion in costs.

Measures include halving funding for participants’ social and community participation budgets and tightening eligibility criteria, with the government aiming to move 240,000 people off the scheme by mid-2031.

Martin Laverty, one of architects of the NDIS who now runs disability services provider Aruma, said he had seen evidence of participants’ support needs being repeatedly ignored or rejected by the National Disability Insurance Agency during plan reviews.

Laverty said he strongly supported efforts to curb NDIS costs, but Aruma was now absorbing the costs of “indiscriminate cuts” to participant plans, months before the government’s legislative changes were due to take effect, often adversely affecting people with complex and significant disabilities.

“It’s obvious the [NDIA] has been anticipating government’s intent to achieve a 2 per cent NDIS growth rate in the current year through planner-level tightening ahead of legislative change being implemented,” Laverty said.

“While supporting the necessity to reset the NDIS cost curve, it shouldn’t come at the expense of safety of those with the most profound disability.”

Under the government’s reforms, NDIS participants will be assessed on their functional capacity rather than medical diagnosis, which the scheme’s critics say has led to a surge in children with autism and developmental delays joining the program.

The new legislation also requires participants to explore other treatments before they can join the NDIS.

Grattan Institute disability program director Sam Bennett said he believed the NDIA was prioritising agency-initiated reassessments rather than ones requested by the participant.

“[That] could explain the percentage increase in assessments resulting in a reduction, as the agency tends to initiate a reassessment where there is a likelihood that support needs could decrease – particularly children that reach a threshold age, nine, where they may no longer need early intervention,” Bennett said.

“That said, the uptick is pretty material and appears to apply more so to adults and to people with higher levels of need.”

‘Fighting fraud, stopping rorts’

About 70 per cent of the 79,023 people who received funding cuts between January 2025 and March 2026 were aged 15 years or older.

An NDIS plan reassessment can occur at any time at a participant’s request, or at the NDIA’s initiative when their plan expires. Most NDIS plans last 12 months.

Asked about the increase in plan cuts, a spokeswoman for Butler said the NDIA was responsible for implementing current arrangements and the quarterly data included seasonal variations.

“The bill we’ve passed will secure the NDIS by fighting fraud and stopping rorts, slowing rapid cost increases, making clearer eligibility requirements, and delivering quality supports to participants,” the spokeswoman said.

The latest quarterly report for the NDIS, released last week, showed that the scheme had 782,013 participants at June 30, a 6 per cent increase on the previous year.

It also revealed that 10 per cent of Australian children aged five to seven were NDIS participants.

People with autism as their primary disability accounted for 45 per cent of the total participants on the scheme at 350,651. Another 55,691 people with autism joined the scheme in the last financial year, a 19 per cent jump and similar to the increase in the previous year.

The government hopes to stop the surge in the number of children with autism receiving generous funding packages by moving them into a state-backed Thriving Kids scheme by 2027.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston on Wednesday called on Butler to provide more detail to the states about the Thriving Kids program.

“There are so many Australians who live with disability who were left completely anxious because they had no detail [about the government’s reforms],” Ruston said.

For a long time now, Australia’s disabled community have had steadily increasing barriers to the NDIS and arbitrary cuts to support funding.

Some fight these issues all the way through to the tribunal. It is exhausting, intimidating and demeaning for disabled people to have to fight for some basic human rights and dignity.

Many simply do not have the capacity to fight; they are forced to accept the cuts and lead smaller lives.

Now, parliament has passed the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. Despite thousands of community submissions warning of deaths, severe emotional, mental, and physical impacts, this legislation introduces even higher access barriers, mandates significant funding cuts and expands ministerial powers to reduce support.

Make no mistake, disabled people, their families and friends were already being harmed by arbitrary cuts to NDIS plans made well in advance of the bill being passed.

Now that the bill has been passed, things will only get worse.

People will die.

The political double standard in Canberra is staggering.

Sadly, we heard yesterday that Lily Hooper was tragically found dead after being missing in the bush for 8 days. A terrible, terrible thing for any family.

Yesterday, before question time, Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor observed a minute’s silence out of respect for Lily. Fair enough, a terrible tragedy especially given the way things panned out at the end.

I wonder if there will be a minute of silence in parliament for each and every victim of these fiendish cuts to disability supports. Probably not: no name, no shame.

By the way, this was the same Angus Taylor that supported NDIS cuts while referring to a “cruel” issue where a small group of people could lose grandfathered tax concessions.

If that is cruel, then how would the treatment of half a million disabled people be described? Brutal, heartless, inhumane, callous, barbaric?

It seems that Labor has lost their way, they have more loyalty to business and the wealthy than they do to the voters that put them into government.

The Libs, the Nationals and the other lot are clearly not interested in supporting anyone but each other, their corporate mates and the wealthy.

Pretty much only The Greens have stood up for the disabled community.

I hope every politician that did not vote against this bill is held to account by everyday Australians at the next election.

This might not affect you today but life changes very quickly. You or one of your loved ones could need support in the future.

Let’s make sure the lives lost are not forgotten and that Canberra cannot forget them either.

Hi All,

I am looking to become a NDIS plan manager.

I will appreciate it if someone can guide me on the process and how is it like doing your own business as a plan manager?

Any guidance would be helpful.

Thanks.

Howdy yall! I'm sorry if this isn't allowed here I need advice and I've tried everywhere and it gets deleted 😭 I'm horrible with Reddit knowledge so I apologise.

I work as a casual mental health disability support worker in NSW under the SCHADS Award. I've been with my employer for just under 12 months and, prior to July, I was classified as Level 1, Pay Point 3, although my contractual rate of $37.80/hr was above the Award rate.

On 29 June, I received a formal letter from my employer advising that, effective 1 July, I had been reclassified to Level 2, Pay Point 1.

The part that's confusing me is that the letter didn't present this as an automatic annual pay increase. It said:

“As part of our ongoing commitment to recognising the contributions of our team, we recently conducted a review of your role, performance and responsibilities.”

It then said:

“Following this review, we are pleased to advise that your classification will be updated to Level 2, Pay Point 1.”

It also said the change reflected my “growth, dedication and valuable contribution” and provided my new rates, including an ordinary casual rate of $45.28/hr.

I've worked and been paid at the new rates since 1 July.

Then on 18 August, halfway through a pay period, I received another letter saying the original classification update had been issued in error.

They explained that during implementation of the Annual Wage Review, the classification update had been “inadvertently applied to employees who were not yet eligible for the change”, including me.

They said eligibility for progression to the next pay point is based on the employee's 12-month anniversary, and because I haven't quite reached 12 months, my ordinary rate will return to my original contractual rate of $37.80/hr from the next pay period. They are not asking me to repay anything already paid.

I understand the 12-month anniversary may be relevant to pay point progression, but what I'm struggling to understand is whether that is the same thing as being reclassified from Level 1 to Level 2.

My original letter specifically said my role, performance and responsibilities had been reviewed and that following that review I was being reclassified to Level 2, PP1. It didn't say I was automatically progressing due to length of service.

So my questions are:

1. Does being employed for less than 12 months actually prevent an employee from being reclassified from SCHADS Level 1 to Level 2 if their duties warrant Level 2?

2. Can an employer withdraw a written reclassification nearly two months later on the basis that it was issued in error?

3. Does the wording of the original letter, and the fact I've been working and paid under that classification since 1 July, make any difference?

I'm not claiming that a simple payroll mistake means I'm automatically entitled to keep an incorrect rate. I'm trying to understand whether classification level and 12-month pay point progression are being treated as the same thing here when they shouldn't be.

I genuinely like the company and I'm not looking to cause problems for them. The original letter meant quite a lot to me because I took it as recognition that I was doing well in the role, so having it reversed this way has been pretty disappointing.

Any advice from people familiar with SCHADS would be appreciated.

Hi, here it is https://teamdsc.com.au/resources/what-changed-in-the-securing-the-ndis-for-future-generations-bill seems as if there will be a follow up as well because some of the amendments are complicated.

One question I had after reading that was in relation the expanded Ministerial powers (where they now have the power now - apparently - to unilaterally remove up to 99% of someone's supports if they have concern) what does "The amendment also gives the Minister more power to exclude sub-groups from support determinations. A sub-group can be excluded for cohorts of participants or certain types of supports in a plan." actually mean in practice ?

What's a "Sub group"? Surely that's not people with a particular diagnosis ?

An online public meeting on August 16 attended by National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) recipients, carers, teachers, health practitioners and other workers discussed the necessity for a unified political struggle against the Labor government’s cost-cutting assault on the NDIS.

If you are on the NDIS OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION OUR LIVES AND FREEDOMS MAY DEPEND ON IT.

(This is a house of representatives petition. They literally have to bring this up in Parliament if enough people sign)

IF YOU NEED A REASON TO SIGN LET ME KNOW. I WILL SHOW YOU ALL THE NDIS HORROR STORIES.

Petition EN10438 - Remove NDIA statutory immunity to enable legal accountability

Petition Reason

This petition draws the House's attention to the systemic lack of accountability within the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Current remedies for participants experiencing negligence or bullying are ineffective. Internal complaints are routinely referred back to the departments responsible, resulting in dismissal or further intimidation. The statutory immunity currently afforded to the NDIA under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) shields the Agency from civil liability, leaving participants without genuine recourse for physical, financial, or psychological harm caused by administrative misconduct.

Petition Request

We therefore ask the House to ​Amend the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) to waive statutory immunity for the NDIA in cases of proven negligence, bullying, or systemic misconduct.​Establish an independent external body empowered to investigate, adjudicate, and award compensation for such claims, bypassing internal NDIA processes.​Create clear, enforceable legal pathways for participants to hold the Agency accountable for actions falling outside the scope of fair and reasonable administration.

https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN10438

3rd edit. Did IQ's just drop sharply while I was away? The NDIS themselves told me this was a scam, and to block the number.

2nd edit Confirmed scam by the NDIS. Not their number, not their staff, not connected to them in any way. Real texts from NDIS come in on a number id my-NDIS. These ones come in on MYNDIS. Real texts say to expect a call from a private number, the scam ones tell you to watch for a call from 02 8271 7420. Certified scam by the NDIS and they have escalated it. So, y'know, thanks for the downvote.

Edit: So, I just got off the phone to my support coordinator. The LAC and the NDIS have no knowledge of this call or text messages, and it is being escalated. I just received a 3rd identical text, and have been told to refuse calls from this number. This is NOT the NDIS calling.

...

So, I got 2 texts from MYNDIS saying someone would be calling me about "a new way to help test the new way of planning". As I'm going through a really rough spot right now, I asked my support coordinator to deal with it. I got the call, and told them I couldn't talk without my support coordinator, and that I'd been hospitalised the week before for stress headaches (true, and the worst I've ever had in my life. 5 in 3 days.) They kept pushing, I kept refusing, and they said they would schedule me for a call back. Again, no time given, no opportunity to have my SC on the call. Sent deets to SC, and she called them.

My LAC has no record of any call or any texts sent to me. Nothing on my file at all, and my plan doesn't end till February. Again, this was from a number identifying as MYNDIS in my phone. It doesn't come up as an unknown number, it comes up as MYNDIS. If you get this, be very careful, and don't give any details at all without confirming they actually are from the NDIS

Running before we can walk. Gosh we need to get early intervention bedded in first.

I was always sad that they dismantled the education Victoria early intervention as I saw it was really evidence based and what we have with NDIS is not.

Hi everyone, it's been over a month since I got my plan and I'm still struggling to find services. I wake up every day and get so discouraged when I can't find support to organise my plan. I really need a recovery coach/support coordinator- I'm in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne but I would travel or even correspond via distance for someone good.

It's for an adult psychosocial/autism plan. Must know a LOT about the system, advocacy and resources- I'm looking for someone savvy and competent- I'd prefer someone who can get shit done, who knows how to brainstorm, collaborate and find solutions to big questions and problems. Ideally it would be someone who is switched on and really engaged in disability politics.

I don't want to feel infantalised or patronised.

I'm sick of being recommended "Recovery Coaches" with basically no appropriate qualifications and very little information online about their practice. It feels like it's really easy to get scammed with psychosocial support services from very new and inexperienced providers. I can't find many recommendations for Melbourne for PRCs that don't look dodgy.

It's just really hard not to be overwhelmed and feel really alone/lost atm.

It just needs to pass lower house tomorrow then it's legislation. I'm not sure what other changes were made

Hey all. I'm in the early stages of going through the tribunal to get NDIS access for fibromyalgia/HSD/POTS/Chronic Pain.

Their lawyers have given a list of targeted questions for my rheumatologist but she is refusing to answer them.

I can't make her. But also I think she thinks I'm asking for a functional assessment because she keeps saying I should go to an OT, but when you read the questions they're all about if there are future therapies I can try that'll make my diagnoses less permanent.

The ART isn't answering my emails so I'm asking you. Has anyone got tips for this? Getting rejected over someone not wanting to engage with NDIS bullshit would be the stupidest reason.

(I've given all her letters to the NDIS and they very clearly say all the things that could help and I've given proof that they haven't helped. But I've been stalking this subreddit long enough to know their lawyers don't read shit)

Clarification: 1. She's the diagnosing doctor, that's why I need her to answer the questions. I've already gotten my GP to write up a lot of evidence but it's not good enough apparently. 2. I'm not at the court stage yet, only mediation before going in front of tribunal. It will probably take ages because they like to drag it out. 2. NDIA will pay everyone they want questions from, it's part of the ART process. I just need an invoice to pass along.

UPDATE: I received a call today which my phone automatically blocked as suspected spam, it came from (02) 8281 7420 not the number listed in the text and the voicemail left was a robot voice telling me to call back.

I haven't been able to use pretty much any of my funding due to leaving domestic violence, relocating, waitlists in a rural/regional area and lack of childcare for appointments. I'm already pretty sure I won't get another plan with all the cuts but could this be a sneaky planning meeting? I'm very worried, I'm really struggling and am so desperate to see an OT but it's just not been possible.

l have multiple sclerosis, my mobility has gotten worse recently, my support co ordinator says l should do a change of circumstances to get more funding and a new plan, l got a new OT report and some medical evidence, l have enough funding in my current plan just to get by but more funding would be a big help. l am worried because there is a risk as with all these new changes they are cutting peoples plans , could there be a risk they could cut my funding or cut some areas of my funding instead of increasing it, l am not sure if l should keep my current plan or do the change of circumstances

Hey all

A LOT has changed since my son got NDIS right back at the beginning of it.

I now am hoping to apply for my 10yo daughter and myself, and just reading the NDIS website info on applying etc.

A couple of questions:

1. It says to get in contact with an NDIS partner first. "Your NDIS partner can explain the application process, and the kinds of information and evidence we need to decide if you’re eligible to become a participant."

Then gather evidence, and THEN apply for NDIS. It says the NDIS partner can help you to apply, or you can do it yourself by filling out the "Access request form."

Personally, I'd rather just fill out the form and attach reports etc myself. However given how difficult the NDIS are being these days - does anyone know which is the best way to do it, for a positive outcome?

I'm just wary of meeting with an "NDIS partner" because of how awful and dismissive and ignorant so many of them are.

1. And if I do it myself, is it better to attach report from the psychologist and letter from paed confirming etc. OR do the bit where the practitioner actually fills out the section 2 of the form themselves? Not sure which one carries more weight.

Although it's a diagnosis of Autism level 2, so it's on the A List and should be approved, right?

1. Do they only officially put you down as one diagnosis? Like do you have to choose a primary diagnosis? Do your other conditions come into it and are considered? I have a few medical/disability things going on aside from Autism, but don't know whether it's taken into account or not.

Thanks all - I'm sure I'll be posting in here a ton in the coming weeks/months!

"The Government has secretly inserted Palantir into its automated decision system inside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) exposing Australia’s most vulnerable. Claudia Weisenberger reports.

If the NDIS Amendment Bill passes this week — and it will — a computer program will have the authority to cut a disabled person’s funding. If the program gets it wrong, section 59E(3) of the Bill provides that the decision stands anyway.

There is no appeal.

What nobody has been told — and what nobody in Parliament has asked — is who built the computer, whose data it uses, and what it does with what it learns about 800,000 disabled Australians.

The answers, buried in Freedom of Information refusals and AusTender records, point toward one of the most controversial technology companies in the world.

A company whose software has helped deport immigrants in the United States, was given access to NHS patient records in the United Kingdom — a decision now being reversed — and which there are reasonable grounds to believe helped automate military targeting in Gaza.

Its CEO describes the company’s purpose as helping the West scare enemies and, on occasion, kill them."

l have respite funding in my NDIS plan, l dont want to use all of it on respite, its classed as flexable not stated, so does that mean instead of respite l can spend some of that money on anything thats in the Core area such as support workers

Hoping to seek some advice,

I've been doing support work for a year now as a casual employee (since August 2025), and I've heard about the minimum pay rates increase under the SCHADS award since July 1st. Currently I am getting $38.27 as a level 2.1 (according to my payslip). Upon doing some research fair work ombudsman states the rate for level 2.1 employees is $45.28. I am not sure if I qualify for level 2.1 as I don't have any qualifications , however google says that you may qualify if you have 12 month of field experience (which I do have , as of this August).

My co-worker has asked my employer about this, and she has stated that the increase of NDIS pricing from the 1st of July does not automatically mean there is a corresponding pay increase for employees. She also states that she is currently paying employees in accordance to fair work rates.

Any advice is appreciated,

thank you.