The Squiz

A big overhaul is coming for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) after a year-long independent review found too many people are being given access to the scheme. Annual spending on the NDIS has blown out to $42 billion in the last year, with 11% of all boys aged 5-7yo now receiving some type of funding for autism or developmental delay. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says he’s determined to get things “back on track” and make sure people with more moderate disabilities can get help outside the scheme so it’s “not the only lifeboat in the ocean”.

Back it up a bit…

The NDIS has been in place since 2013, and it was meant to focus on providing a lifeline for people with a permanent and significant disability. There are currently 630,000 Aussies on the scheme – that’s a lot more than anyone predicted, mainly because there’s been that surge in children with autism being included. And because every participant gets their own funded ‘plan’ – which might include the government paying for speech therapy/support workers/specialised equipment – the costs have shot up. And now, it has been widely accepted the scheme isn’t sustainable, with costs heading towards $100 billion within 10 years if nothing changes.

So what’s going to happen?Well, first things first – the states/territories have said they will start taking responsibility for those kids who don’t need a full-blown NDIS package but do need extra support in schools and other places. And given that 4.4 million Australians are living with a disability, the review’s authors say it’s “vital” a bunch of services are available outside the NDIS. Nicole Rogerson from Autism Awareness Australia says she’s worried a large number of people will be “kicked off” the scheme and they’ll be left “floundering”. For Shorten’s part, he says the government won’t respond to all of the review’s 26 recommendations until next year, but he’s told participants that we’re not going back to a time “when people with disability were forced to rely on charity to fundraise for wheelchairs”. So watch this space…