Under strain, Australia's world-leading disability support faces major restructure
Summary
Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding to people with lifelong and severe disabilities to improve their independence and quality of life. The program is growing quickly and becoming very expensive, so the government plans to introduce stricter rules to reduce its size and costs.Key Facts
- The NDIS helps over 700,000 Australians with disabilities by giving them funding based on their individual needs.
- The scheme started in 2012 and became fully available nationwide by 2020.
- The NDIS allows participants to choose how to spend their funding to support their independence.
- Funding costs have increased from an estimated A$22 billion per year to A$54 billion this financial year.
- On average, each participant receives about A$65,000 ($44,800) in funding.
- Proposed government changes aim to tighten control of the scheme to reduce spending.
- The NDIS Amendment bill passed the House of Representatives and is under review by the Senate.
- Annabelle Shaw, a student with Down Syndrome, uses NDIS funds for support during activities like hockey and speech therapy.
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