The Australian government is moving forward with a series of reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), sparking frustration among parents of children with disabilities. The proposed changes are meant to address budget sustainability and reduce system abuse, but many families say the reforms would leave their children without the individualized support they need.

Under the current plan, the government is focusing on broad categories of service delivery and standardized funding caps, shifting away from highly individualized plans. Parents argue that this approach ignores the specific needs of children and risks undermining their development, independence, and quality of life.

Families are calling for reforms that are shaped by the lived experiences of those directly affected, rather than being dictated by bureaucratic quotas. While policymakers emphasize long-term sustainability, parents are urging the government to work with them to build solutions that protect both the budget and the people the system is designed to serve.

My Thoughts

I don’t think it’s smart to leave families without the support they need. While I can’t speak directly on the Australian experience since I don’t live there, it seems clear that when parents are raising their voices about what their children need, that input should be taken seriously. Instead of reforms being driven by government quotas, the conversation should start with parents and families who live with these challenges every day.

What disability services look like to the government often becomes a matter of numbers, categories, and costs. But to the people who actually need them, services are about survival, growth, and learning how to succeed in the world. That’s a perspective that can’t be captured by bureaucratic red tape.

I believe one solution would be to create a committee made up of parents of children with disabilities, giving them a formal role in shaping policies. They know firsthand what works and what doesn’t. Incremental changes based on the individual needs of each child would not only improve outcomes but also reduce long-term strain on the system by helping children learn, grow, and adapt more effectively.

There’s no reason a system like this shouldn’t already exist—it just makes sense. Listening to parents would help ensure that services are practical, sustainable, and truly centered on people, not paperwork. And by making small, constant adjustments to meet individual needs, we would also be giving children more confidence that they can succeed in the world, building on what they learn each step of the way.

Sources  

   •    The Guardian – “Parents say NDIS reforms risk leaving children without adequate support” (https://www.theguardian.com)     •    ABC News – “Families express concern over disability reforms and the future of the NDIS” (https://www.abc.net.au)     •    SBS News – “Parents rally against changes to NDIS supports” (https://www.sbs.com.au)

Question to Consider

How can governments design disability services that are both financially sustainable and truly centered on the lived experiences of the people who rely on them?