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Why NDIS Reform is Making Headlines: A Critical Turning Point for Disability in Australia
- Amanda Scott
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 7
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is at a crossroads. Over a decade since its inception, it's now the subject of intense public scrutiny. Key concerns include its sustainability, accessibility, and future growth. A pivotal report from the Grattan Institute, one of Australia's leading policy think tanks, has brought bold recommendations to the national stage. This has sparked discussions from Parliament to participant homes.
For families in Queensland’s South East region, from Brisbane South to Tweed Heads, these potential reforms could dramatically impact how services are accessed. They will affect who qualifies for support and what options exist beyond the NDIS.
Understanding the Grattan Institute's Influence
Founded in 2008, the Grattan Institute is an independent, non-partisan think tank focused on Australian public policy. Its influence on government decision-making is significant. The institute often serves as a blueprint for reforms in health, education, energy, and social services.
In mid-2025, Grattan released a major report titled "Saving the NDIS". This report outlines structural problems with the current scheme and presents a bold reform roadmap. It has been widely cited by government officials and is shaping current and upcoming NDIS policy debates.
The Current Challenges Facing the NDIS
The NDIS supports over 600,000 participants, with numbers continuing to grow. This growth is particularly notable among young children and people with mild to moderate disabilities. Key issues highlighted in the report include:
Unsustainable spending growth: Projected to exceed $90 billion annually by 2030.
Eligibility confusion: Especially in psychosocial and developmental categories.
Geographic inequality: Services in areas like the Gold Coast are accessible, but inland and rural QLD regions face major gaps.
Long wait times and plan mismanagement.
These problems have prompted calls to tighten eligibility and clarify the roles of mainstream services.
Key Recommendations from the Grattan Report
The report presents a series of recommendations grouped under five main themes:
Clearer Eligibility Criteria Shift toward stricter and more consistent diagnostic frameworks.
Foundational Supports Outside NDIS: Expand access to early intervention services through schools, community health, and local councils.
Tiered Access for Children with Developmental Delays: Introduce targeted funding outside the NDIS for mild autism and learning disabilities.
Better Integration with Mainstream Systems: Push education, housing, and health services to take more responsibility for disability inclusion.
Improve Plan Management and Oversight: Including better data sharing, stricter price controls, and outcome tracking.
Clarifying NDIS Eligibility – Who Should Be Covered?
A cornerstone of the report is the call to redefine who belongs on the NDIS. The aim is to focus funding on people with permanent and significant disabilities, rather than those with short-term or mild impairments.
This might mean:
A shift in how Level 1 and 2 autism diagnoses are assessed for eligibility.
Greater emphasis on functional assessments over medical labels.
Tightening access for participants under 7 years old unless early childhood intervention fails.
The Role of Mainstream and Foundational Services
Grattan proposes that mainstream services, not the NDIS, should handle most mild support needs. This includes:
School-based therapy for children with learning challenges.
Universal mental health access via Medicare.
Community sport and recreation programs.
For families in Tweed Heads or suburban Gold Coast, this could mean relying more on state health and education systems. This is especially true for children who wouldn’t meet tighter NDIS criteria.
Mental Health, Mild Autism, and Developmental Delay: A Tipping Point?
The report draws attention to a steep rise in participants with:
Mild autism diagnoses in early childhood.
Psychosocial disabilities including anxiety, PTSD, or undiagnosed trauma.
Undifferentiated developmental delays.
Grattan argues that while these individuals need support, the NDIS shouldn’t be the default. Instead, the recommendation is for expanded early intervention and community-based therapy outside the scheme.
Critics warn this could exclude people who rely on these services now.
How Reforms Could Impact Families and Children
If the government adopts these changes, parents of children with:
Mild developmental delays.
Level 1 autism.
Speech and learning difficulties.
… may no longer be eligible for individual NDIS funding. Instead, they might be referred to “foundational support programs.”
This could feel like a step backward, especially for those who’ve seen significant benefits from early access to therapy via the NDIS.
What It Means for Participants in Gold Coast & South East QLD
In regions like South Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Tweed Heads, reforms could result in:
Shorter NDIS access lists.
More reliance on Queensland Health and community support hubs.
More pressure on support coordinators to explain alternative pathways.
Increased advocacy needs for participants at the borderline of eligibility.
While urban areas may adapt quickly, rural QLD may struggle due to service shortages.
Support Coordination in a Changing NDIS Landscape
Support coordinators will become more vital than ever. In the new model, they must:
Explain the difference between funded and non-funded supports.
Help participants navigate mainstream and community options.
Build cases for eligibility or review when access is denied.
Advocate in increasingly complex systems.
At iKare, our coordinators are already training for this transition. They are equipping clients with the tools to stay informed and supported.
Risks and Concerns Raised by the Disability Sector
Many advocates, including Every Australian Counts, have expressed concern that:
People will fall through the cracks.
Foundational supports are underfunded and poorly coordinated.
Exclusion may lead to worsening disability due to lack of early intervention.
Cultural and linguistic minorities may be disproportionately affected.
There’s a strong call to ensure that NDIS doesn’t become a gate-kept program that prioritizes fiscal control over lived outcomes.
Potential Benefits If Reforms Are Done Right
If implemented carefully, the Grattan reforms could:
Secure NDIS funding for future generations.
Ensure that those with permanent and complex needs receive more personalized support.
Reduce service duplication and confusion.
Improve community inclusion by expanding universal supports.
A more integrated system can reduce stigma and improve everyday inclusion, if it’s backed by proper funding.
What Participants and Families Should Do Now
To prepare for change:
Stay updated via ndis.gov.au.
Keep a file of updated assessments and reports.
Seek support coordination if you haven’t yet.
Join participant forums or advocacy groups in your area.
Ask your providers about how they’re preparing for eligibility changes.
iKare’s Role: Supporting You Through Uncertainty
At iKare Support Services, we work closely with NDIS participants and families across the Gold Coast, Brisbane South, and Tweed Heads.
We help you:
Understand policy updates.
Prepare for changes to eligibility or funding.
Access respite, therapy, and housing supports.
Coordinate services even outside NDIS.
Our mission remains simple: Support that adapts to you, always.
Conclusion: A Critical Turning Point for Disability in Australia
The Grattan Institute’s report has opened the door to fundamental change in the way Australia supports people with disabilities. Whether these reforms build a more inclusive and sustainable system or create new barriers will depend on how well they’re implemented and who is at the table.
For NDIS participants and their families in South East Queensland, this is a moment to stay engaged, stay informed, and stay empowered.
Let us help you navigate what's next. Your goals still matter. Your future is still yours to shape.
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