Article
People with intellectual disability, Down syndrome and complex support needs could be left without critical supports under new NDIS funding changes, disability organisations are warning.
From 1 October 2026, funding for social, community and civic participation supports will be reduced by 50% when NDIS plans are created or reassessed.
New safeguards allow eligible participants with 24-hour disability support needs to seek a plan variation to maintain critical supports. However, Inclusion Australia and Down Syndrome Australia are concerned that the definition of “24-hour support needs” could exclude people whose support is largely provided by family.
Down Syndrome Australia CEO Darryl Steff says the issue comes down to how we understand what support actually looks like in someone’s life.
Too often, people think about 24-hour support as someone providing active support every minute of the day... For many people, the real question is much simpler: would they be safe without support?
Darryl Steff, CEO of Down Syndrome Australia
That support might include taking medication, responding to an emergency, making decisions or knowing what to do when someone comes to the door.
“Many families provide that support every day,” Steff says. “The need does not disappear simply because it is being provided by family rather than paid workers.”
Inclusion Australia CEO Maeve Kennedy says the changes could also create unintended consequences for the NDIS itself.
“The original intent of the NDIS was to support people with disability to have lives like others in our community, in the arrangement that works best for them,” Kennedy says.
She says people should not be pushed towards more formal support arrangements simply to maintain access to essential funding.
Community participation is another major concern. Kennedy says these supports help people maintain relationships, contribute to their communities and remain connected to networks that can recognise when something is wrong.
When people have fewer opportunities to participate in community life, there is a greater risk of isolation
Maeve Kennedy, CEO of Inclusion Australia
Both organisations support the long-term sustainability of the NDIS but say reforms must not come at the expense of safety, inclusion or choice.
They are calling for the Australian Government and the NDIA to closely monitor the changes and ensure people with genuine 24-hour support needs are not excluded from safeguards because of who currently provides their support.