DELIVERING quality disability support remains a growing challenge for the Albanese Government, as the cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) rises sharply and concerns increase about the adequacy of services outside the scheme.
The NDIS cost $43.9 billion in 2023-24 and is expected to reach $58 billion by 2028. In an effort to contain costs, the Government has set an annual growth target of eight per cent and has begun reassessing participant eligibility. However, people who are ruled ineligible are often left in limbo, without access to suitable support services.
A particularly affected group is children. Some families are being told to rely on mainstream services like health and education, which are often either under-resourced or unable to offer the necessary support.
Without early intervention, children may require more intensive – and costly – help later on.
Only 14 per cent of Australians with disability are NDIS participants. But many of the 86 per cent outside the scheme still have significant support needs in areas like mobility, transport, daily tasks and emotional regulation.
The NDIS review found that the lack of alternative supports pushed people into the scheme as their only option.
To bridge this gap, the review recommended the creation of “foundational supports” – a tiered system designed to assist people with disability who don’t qualify for the NDIS.
Foundational supports are divided into two types:
- General supports like peer networks, advocacy training, and information resources.
- Targeted supports for specific groups, such as psychosocial disability, families of children with developmental delay, or those transitioning into independent living.
These supports were scheduled to begin rolling out from July this year, but confusion remains. Many participants are losing access to the NDIS before these new supports are in place, creating uncertainty and hardship.
The NDIS has also been shifted into a new federal department – Health, Disability and Ageing – led by Mark Butler.
Senator Jenny McAllister has taken on the new role of Minister for the NDIS.
While some welcome the chance to integrate services, others are concerned disability will be overshadowed by health and aged care priorities.
Ensuring foundational supports are properly implemented is vital – not only to protect people falling through the cracks, but also to preserve the long-term sustainability of the NDIS.
Authors: Helen Dickinson, UNSW Sydney; Anne Kavanagh, The University of Melbourne
Source: Theconversation.com
