Back to Latest UpdatesButler flags more major reforms to the NDIS; future participant cuts flagged
By Hayley Stone, Executive Director Policy and Government Relations Deafness Forum Australia
In an address to the National Press Club, on the eve of releasing the first federal budget since the Iran war, Minister Butler flagged further changes to the NDIS, saying reforms were necessary to keep the costs of the NDIS under control and retain the scheme’s social licence.
He outlined plans to better regulate the NDIS market to prevent fraud and the introduction of a fairer assessment framework, which focuses on functional capacity, not diagnosis.
Butler also spoke to a necessary ‘reset’ of the scheme, with practical impacts expected to be felt by participants in terms of eligibility and access to support and funding.
While we’ll need to wait for the release of the Federal Budget next week to know the full scope of the changes and how these might affect participants who are D/deaf or have hearing loss, we know that a proportion of participants who were previously eligible for the Scheme may lose their eligibility for the NDIS in the long-term; people who will continue to need access to disability-related supports.
The planned changes to the NDIS make it critical for the State and Territory governments to work with the Federal Government to build an ecosystem of supports for people with disability who won’t meet the eligibility criteria for the Scheme. Deafness Forum Australia will be monitoring the changes to the NDIS very closely.
While there’s been no indication that there will be any immediate eligibility changes for our members, we do expect that the Government will consider whether people who are D/deaf or have hearing loss should remain on the Scheme at some point in the future. This is because a proportion of our members already have access to the Hearing Services Program for support outside the Scheme, while 70% of NDIS participants with hearing loss identify as having a high level of functional capacity, which could arguably rule people out on the basis that they don’t have significant enough disability.
We’ve been considering this possibility for some time and have a clear path forward.
Deafness Forum Australia has two immediate priorities:
1. to ensure that NDIS participants who are D/deaf or have hearing loss retain the supports they need to participate in daily life,
2. to support the development of foundational supports that are responsive to the unique and specialised needs of Australians who are D/deaf or have hearing loss.
We are dedicated to holding the government accountable for ensuring that no child or adult with D/deafness or hearing loss is left behind because of these reforms.
We’ll continue to use our influence to ensure the interests of Australians with hearing loss and D/deafness are represented across all Government decision-making.
Once the Federal Budget is released, we’ll have a clearer picture of the government’s plans, and as we learn new information, we’ll share it and explain what it means to you.
We know that this is a stressful time for many people with disability and their families. If you are feeling distressed, please know that there is help (including accessible support) available via the following services:
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
https://www.lifeline.org.au/
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FAQ
Why are reforms to the NDIS being proposed?
The reforms are being introduced to address rapid scheme cost growth, sustainability concerns, and system integrity issues. The government’s objective is to ensure the NDIS remains financially viable long-term while continuing to provide “reasonable and necessary” supports to eligible participants.
How might the changes affect people with hearing loss?
The page highlights that supports are shared between the NDIS and the Hearing Services Program. Under current arrangements, people with hearing loss may receive services from either system depending on eligibility, but reforms aim to ensure clearer rules on which system funds which hearing supports and for whom.
What is the main concern raised by disability advocates?
A key concern is that changes could lead to confusion, gaps in service delivery, or reduced access if responsibilities between the NDIS and other government programs are not clearly coordinated, especially during transitions or eligibility changes.
