Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) calls on the Federal government to prioritise participants and deliver genuine co-design in the wake of the NDIS Amendment Bill passing this week.
CYDA remains deeply troubled by key aspects of this new legislation, which was rushed through the Senate without adequate input from the disability community.
“The Bill has shaken the community’s confidence in the government’s commitment to listening to and acting in the best interest of people with disability,” said CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore.
“Children and young people with disability want to know they will continue to receive the essential supports that allow them to live their lives fully; this legislation robs them of that certainty.
“We will hold the government accountable for every promise it has made and, so far, failed to honour.”
CYDA is concerned the strict transitional rules introduced under Section 10 of the legislation undermine the ability of participants to access essential supports.
It joins other disability representative organisations in calling for the continuation of a principled approach that favours flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Additionally, the lack of a clear plan for funding needs assessments leaves people with disability at risk of footing significant out-of-pocket costs during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
This disproportionately impacts marginalised groups, including children and young people with disability and their families. In CYDA’s recent survey, 67% of respondents stated that they were concerned that they would lose valuable supports, having a significant impact on their lives.
This cohort already faces severe financial challenges, with a 2022 University of Queensland study finding supporting a child with disability or long-term medical condition results in an additional $3125 in Medicare costs per year from birth until age 16.
Despite these concerns, CYDA remains hopeful the government and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten will uphold their commitment to genuine co-design with the disability community, especially now that the legislation has passed.
Furthermore, it urges Minister Shorten to adhere to his earlier statements that limiting costs will not adversely affect the quality or accessibility of participants’ packages.
Cost-cutting measures cannot come at the expense of the rights of people with disability to access necessary supports, as is the purpose of the NDIS.
At the same time, the Federal government must work with states and territories to genuinely progress foundational supports for those not on the Scheme.
While 660,000 people with disability have access to the NDIS – a majority of them children and young people with disability – there are still approximately 5 million more who do not.
CYDA will continue to advocate to ensure the voices of children and young people with disability and their families are heard in ongoing NDIS reforms.
Additional comments from CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore:
“The government’s target to reduce NDIS cost growth to 8% by mid-2026 cannot come at the expense of the people with disability, including many thousands of children and young people who rely on it, particularly in the absence of affordable and accessible services outside of the scheme. We expect to see cuts to waste, not to the lifeline that the NDIS represents for so many.”
On the need for ongoing consultation with the disability community
“We were deeply disappointed by the government’s rushed two-week consultation around the draft NDIS Supports lists.”
“To date, we’ve engaged with the government in good faith and would like to continue doing so. Passing the Bill must not mean abandoning the promise to involve the disability community in shaping the Scheme. We call on the government to honour its commitment to meaningful co-design.”
On the transitional rules around NDIS Supports
“This legislation’s one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work for children and young people with disability. The government’s refusal to adopt a principled approach could make meeting basic needs even harder.”
“We cannot let the transitional rules become permanent barriers that strip autonomy and dignity and limit access to essential supports.”
On a lack of clarity around needs assessment funding
“The government has again failed to provide any clarity on how needs assessments will be funded, leaving children and young people with disability and their families potentially on the hook for costs that could amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.”
“This is unacceptable and could bar the most vulnerable from accessing what can be a truly life-changing Scheme when it works.”
For more information or further comment, please contact CYDA:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (03) 9417 1025
