Major changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The Australian Government has announced major changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The NDIS is not stopping, but it will become stricter and more controlled over the next few years.
Why is the government changing the NDIS?
The NDIS is growing very quickly.
Currently:
- More than 760,000 Australians are on the NDIS
- It costs about $50 billion per year
- Without changes, costs may rise to $70 billion by 2030
The government says this is too expensive long-term, so they want to slow spending and reduce misuse.
Biggest Changes Explained Simply
1. Diagnosis alone will NOT guarantee NDIS access anymore
This is the biggest change.
In the future:
- Having a diagnosis (for example autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, etc.) will not automatically qualify someone for the NDIS.
- The government will look more at:
- How much the disability affects daily life
- Whether the person can manage everyday tasks independently
This is called a functional assessment.
Example:
Two people with autism may receive different outcomes:
- One may still qualify
- One may not qualify if they can function more independently
2. Fewer people will qualify for the NDIS
The government expects:
- About 160,000 fewer people will be on the NDIS over time
This may happen because:
- Entry rules become stricter
- Existing participants may be reassessed
Changes are expected to gradually start from 2028.
3. People who do not qualify may receive “Foundational Supports”
If someone no longer qualifies for NDIS:
- They are not supposed to be left with nothing
- Instead, they may receive:
- State government services
- Community supports
- Lower-level disability assistance
These are called Foundational Supports.
But many families are worried these supports may not be enough.
4. Social & community participation funding may reduce
This affects supports such as:
- Community access
- Social activities
- Group activities
- Support workers for outings
The government says spending in this area has become too high.
Average funding may reduce:
- From about $31,000
- To about $26,000
This could mean:
- Fewer support hours
- Less funding for activities/community participation
5. More fraud checks and stricter provider rules
The government says there has been:
- Fraud
- Fake claims
- Poor-quality providers
- Even organised crime involvement
So new measures will include:
- More providers needing registration
- Stronger audits and compliance
- Better tracking of spending
- New digital payment systems
6. Plan managers & support coordinators may face tighter controls
The government believes:
- Too much money is being spent on intermediaries
- Some reassessments are increasing budgets unnecessarily
Possible future changes:
- More monitoring of plan managers/support coordinators
- Approved provider lists
- Less “free market” flexibility
7. Essential supports are expected to stay protected
The government says core supports should remain protected, including:
- Personal care
- Daily living assistance
- Accommodation
- Transport
- High-needs supports
The focus is mainly on reducing:
- Overspending
- Lower-needs access
- Poor-quality services
What does this mean for participants?
Possible positives:
✅ Better protection from fraud
✅ Better provider quality
✅ More sustainable system long-term
Possible concerns:
⚠️ Harder to qualify
⚠️ Funding cuts in some areas
⚠️ More reassessments
⚠️ Less flexibility and choice
What does this mean for providers like Aviva Health?
Providers will likely need:
- Strong compliance systems
- Better documentation
- Higher quality standards
- Good reputation and trust
- Proper staff training
Quality providers may stand out more under the new system.
Important Timeline
Some changes:
- Begin this year
Major eligibility changes:
- Being developed over the next 12–18 months
- Expected to start from 2028
Full rollout will take several years.
Bottom Line
The government says the goal is:
“Save the NDIS, not remove it.”
The future NDIS will likely:
Focus more on measurable daily-life impact rather than diagnosis alone
Support people with higher and more complex needs
Be more regulated
Have stricter entry rules
Here’s a simplified Chinese version suitable for WeChat/social media:
🚨 澳洲 NDIS 即将迎来重大改革！
澳洲政府正式宣布：
NDIS 不会取消，但未来将变得更严格、更规范。
很多华人家庭关心：
👉 以后还能申请吗？
👉 现在的 funding 会减少吗？
👉 自闭症、ADHD 还符合资格吗？
这里帮大家简单整理重点👇
📌 为什么要改革？
目前全澳已有超过 76 万人使用 NDIS，
每年花费约 500 亿澳元。
政府认为增长太快，
如果不改革，2030年可能达到 700 亿澳元。
因此政府希望：
✅ 减少浪费
✅ 打击诈骗
✅ 让真正高需求人士优先获得支持
————————————
🔥 最大改变：以后“诊断”不再等于自动符合资格！
未来申请 NDIS：
❌ 不再只是看 diagnosis（诊断）
而是会重点评估：
👉 这个人的日常生活受到多大影响
👉 是否真的需要长期支持
也就是说：
即使两个人都是自闭症，
结果也可能不同。
————————————
📉 未来可能更难进入 NDIS
政府预计：
未来长期会减少约 16 万名参与者。
原因包括：
▪️资格审核更严格
▪️持续 reassessment（重新评估）
预计 2028 年开始逐步实施。
————————————
💸 社区参与 funding 可能减少
未来可能影响：
▪️ 社区活动
▪️ outing
▪️ group activities
▪️ support worker 陪同外出
政府认为这部分支出增长太快。
可能出现：
⚠️ funding 减少
⚠️ 支持时间变少
⚠️ 社区活动预算下降
————————————
🚫 严打诈骗和不良机构
未来会：
✅ 更严格 provider 注册
✅ 更严格 audit 审核
✅ 新数字付款追踪系统
✅ 更严格监管 plan manager / support coordinator
政府表示：
目前已有很多假 claim、低质量服务甚至诈骗问题。
————————————
🏠 核心支持暂时预计不会大砍
例如：
✅ 日常生活协助
✅ personal care
✅ accommodation
✅ transport
政府表示：
重点是减少浪费，
不是取消真正需要的照护。
————————————
👨👩👧 对家庭意味着什么？
好的方面：
✔️ 更少诈骗
✔️ 服务质量提升
✔️ NDIS 更可持续
挑战：
⚠️ 更难申请
⚠️ funding 可能减少
⚠️ 审核更严格
————————————
📅 时间线
▪️ 部分改革今年开始
▪️ 大型资格改革预计 2028 年开始
▪️ 完全实施需要数年时间
————————————
📌 总结一句：
未来 NDIS 仍然存在，
但会更严格、更规范，
资源会更集中给高需求人士。
建议大家：
✅ 提前做好 documentation
✅ 保留功能影响记录
✅ 找值得信赖、合规的服务机构
✅ 持续关注政策更新
- This resource is for general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, or disability services advice.
For personalised support, contact Aviva Health or your Support Coordinator. · NDIS information sourced from ndis.gov.au