Representatives from Every Australian Counts have been actively involved in a number of NDIS reform co-design meetings over the past several weeks. These meetings are supposed to put the voices of people with disability at the centre of change – but it’s clear there’s still a long way to go.

Our Steering Committee Codesign Lead, Nick Avery, attended a series of key meetings with the NDIA and Department of Social Services (DSS) to advocate for the changes our community has called for: flexible supports, genuine co-design, and systems that work for all, not just some.

Here’s what we’ve learned.

Not enough regional voices on the new Rural and Remote Advisory Group

Before the first Rural and Remote Advisory Group (RRAG) meeting, we raised concerns directly with NDIA leadership about the lack of geographically isolated members. We were told the group’s membership was not yet final. We’ve since provided names of regional advocates, and NDIA encouraged other group members to do the same. But representation can’t be an afterthought – it must be built in from the start.

NDIA’s new remote service model shows promise – but needs scrutiny

The NDIA shared a new Remote Service Delivery Model focused on areas without Partners in the Community. The model aims to increase face-to-face delivery and targeted support, including access clinics to support people with disability applying for access to the NDIS.

Two case studies stood out:

• Barkly, NT: 87% face-to-face engagement, strong local connections
• Katanning, WA: New services introduced after local engagement

These stories sound promising – but we’ll be watching closely to see if results like these can be delivered in other communities, particularly where gaps are still growing.

Planning reform must be more than a rebrand

In the Participant Pathway Experience Working Group, we pushed for a clear, respectful, and streamlined experience for people with disability in the new planning framework.

NDIA are proposing the following steps for New Framework Plans:

• Preparation Meeting with a Support Officer.

• Share your personal story.
• Find out what happens next.
• Update your goals and ‘About Me’ section of your plan.
• Discuss any changes to your circumstances.
• Prepare for your Support Needs Assessment.

• Support Needs Assessment with a Needs Assessor.

• Share your daily life, needs and preferences.
• Confirm that your needs and goals are correct.

• Receive your budget and plan with the Needs Assessor.

• The Needs Assessor will explain the plan and how the budget was decided, and confirm the next steps for you.
• You can ask questions or request a review.

• Plan Implementation with LAC / Support Coordinator or ECA Coordinator.

• Develop a plan tailored to your goals.
• Find out about the supports you can claim and how to access them.
• Learn how to use your budget and services.
• Get support to find providers and manage funding.

Important Note:  The process for New Framework Plans is still being designed, and may change based on feedback.

We raised this again: why do participants still need to tell their story to more than one person? The NDIA says it’s about cost – cheaper workers will run preparation meetings and plan implementation, not the actual Support Needs Assessors. That’s not good enough. We’ve been telling them for years: people want to tell their story once, and only once.

NDIA also held separate workshops with participants who made it clear that:

• They want to understand what meetings are for.
  They need to feel safe and prepared.
• They want the power to update their information and book meetings themselves.
• The process must be trauma-informed, welcoming and community-based.

NDIA has promised more consultation on this, including focus groups for people with psychosocial disability, autistic people and people with intellectual disability.

Concerns about 3 month funding periods being set as default for all new NDIS Plans from 19th May 2025

NDIA has consulted: 

• Disability and Carer Representative Organisations (DRCOs) including Every Australian Counts
• the Independent Advisory Council
• the Better Planning Working Group (which became the Participant Pathway Experience Codesign Working Group)
• And participants

We told NDIA that the default funding periods should be 12 months, with the option of shorter funding periods if participants prefer it or there is significant concern that the plan might be overspent.  We raised concerns about: 

• risks to participants with complex needs, episodic or degenerative disabilities, 
• difficulties purchasing assistive tech and equipment if funding is released in 3 month increments
• huge delays in the NDIA processing S100 Internal Reviews and S48 Change of Circumstances plan changes, and lack of flexibility to cover increased needs or loss of informal supports
• that participants will not be able to source a Functional Capacity Assessment if they need evidence to appeal decisions or ask for their plan to be changed.

EAC is deeply concerned by this change, and the lack of communication to participants before it occurred.  We will continue to advocate to NDIA for these issues to be addressed.

EAC flags critical problems with current NDIS plans

In our regular meetings with the NDIA, we raised urgent concerns about the rigidity of plans issued since the 3rd of October.

People are being given plans they can’t actually use.

In regional and remote areas, waitlists for services like Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology are often 8-18 months or longer. Because PACE plans say that all Capacity Building and Capital supports are ‘Stated Supports’ people can’t use their funding for group programs, therapy assistants, alternate therapists or even to train parents or carers while waiting to access the supports described in the plan. For example, if your plan says “Occupational Therapy – Stated Support” and there’s no one available, you’re stuck.

This has to change – especially since it’s expected to take five years to fully move everyone onto the new planning framework.

NDIA says they’re working on it. We’ll keep pushing to make sure they follow through.

Where to next?

There’s real potential in the co-design process. But it won’t work unless the NDIA listens to participants and advocates, acts on what they hear, communicate with the disability community, and most importantly, bring people with disability into decision-making from the start.

Every Australian Counts will keep showing up. We’ll keep fighting for transparency, flexibility, and respect in every step of the process.

We’ll keep collecting feedback from our community to make sure your voice is in the room.

Stay informed and show your support

We’ll keep pushing for an NDIS that works – one that delivers the right support, is led by lived experience, and protects the rights of people with disability.

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