When new legislation targeting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was passed, Bonnie’s stress manifested physically – her hair began to fall out as she feared the reforms would strip her sister Claire of the one‑to‑one support that underpins her independent life.
What the recent reforms entail
The Getting the NDIS Back on Track bill, which took effect in October 2024, introduced a cascade of adjustments. These include tighter definitions of eligible supports, caps on certain therapies, limits on travel reimbursements for allied‑health workers and the introduction of “funding periods” that restrict when money can be spent.
Sarah Langston, president of the Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association, warned that the cumulative effect of these “complex changes” is a substantial cut to funding. A government spokesperson defended the moves as essential to curb a projected rise in the scheme’s cost from $44.3 bn in 2024 to over $90 bn by the decade’s end and to avoid a $45 bn increase predicted by the NDIS actuary since October 2022.
“Robo‑planning” and the I‑CAN tool
From mid‑2026 the NDIA plans to replace individual interviews with the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I‑CAN), an online algorithm that will generate funding recommendations. Advocates argue the tool has not been adequately tested across diverse disability groups, may be operated by staff without allied‑health qualifications, and could dramatically reduce human oversight.
Critics have dubbed the shift “robo‑planning” and a “nightmare scenario”, calling for transparency on how the algorithm determines support levels. Dr Kelly Gough of the Australian Psychological Society likened the lack of public insight to trusting an undisclosed tax‑calculation algorithm.
In parallel, the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) – the last resort appeal body for NDIS participants – is slated to lose most of its power to increase funding allocations.
Impact on families: Claire’s story
Claire, a wheelchair‑bound, blind woman in her 30s, runs a tiny business, consults on disability issues, socialises and competes in para‑sports, all made possible by one‑to‑one care funded through the NDIS. Her mother Alice says she “should be a poster girl for the NDIS.”
When a prior plan forced Claire into shared supported accommodation, her family successfully appealed to the ART, securing 24‑hour, one‑to‑one support. The prospect of losing the ability to appeal the new I‑CAN outcomes has left the family “absolutely cooked,” according to Bonnie.
Thriving Kids: a new direction for children
The Thriving Kids program, slated for full rollout on 1 January 2028, will transition children aged eight and under with “mild to moderate developmental delay and autism” out of the NDIS into early‑intervention services delivered mainly by state governments. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler framed the shift as a budget‑cutting measure aimed at refocusing the scheme on “significant and permanent care and support needs”.
The initiative promises early identification of issues, parent skill‑building and rapid access to allied‑health professionals such as speech pathologists and occupational therapists. While the government asserts that children with high‑support needs will remain eligible for the NDIS, advocates like Lexy Wilson warn that placing the burden of therapy on parents could lead to burnout and jeopardise outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Getting the NDIS Back on Track bill?
We see legislation introduced in October 2024 that implements a series of changes to the NDIS, including new support definitions, therapy funding caps, travel cost limits and “funding periods” that restrict when money can be spent.
What is the I‑CAN tool and how will it affect plan assessments?
I‑CAN (Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs) is an online algorithm the NDIA plans to roll out from mid‑2026 to replace the current interview‑based process for determining participants’ funding. Critics say it has not been tested across a broad range of disabilities and reduces human oversight.
What does the Thriving Kids program entail?
The program will remove children aged eight and under with “mild to moderate developmental delay and autism” from the NDIS, shifting them to early‑intervention services run largely by state governments. Full implementation is planned for 1 January 2028, with joint federal‑state funding.
How do you consider these reforms could reshape the future of disability support in Australia?
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