Ready to get started with peer support workers?
Call us or send an enquiry. We will talk through what you need and whether we are the right fit. If we are not, we will say so and point you somewhere better.
Some people have been asking about the recent proposed changes to the NDIS, so I have drafted this statement to clear through the noise.
Unfortunately, when politics is involved, it is always hard to know what information to trust—regardless of which political party is in government. Additionally, the mainstream media will always find a way to amplify, distort, and sensationalize what is happening.
The NDIS is enormous, complicated, and has its own systemic problems to say the least. It is my view that the current government is using the scheme as an easy political target to appeal to swing voters—particularly those concerned about government spending and stories of waste.
The Reality of Fraud vs. Essential Care
To be clear, over 10% of NDIS expenditure is estimated to be lost to fraud. Every dollar saved from fraudulent activity is potentially another dollar that can be redirected back into supporting Australians who genuinely need the scheme.
Where Things Stand Right Now
Despite the sensationalized headlines, it is important to look at the facts on the ground:
- The Bill Has Not Passed the Senate: The legislative process is still underway.
- No Direct Cuts to Our Participants: Not one of our participants has had their plan cut. Not one. Not a single cent.
The participants we work alongside genuinely require this support. They live with complex needs, multiple diagnoses, and circumstances that are often incredibly difficult. Many are navigating dire situations, and the care we provide often represents a vital anchor in otherwise challenging lives.
The Uncomfortable Truth About the NDIS Market
There is an uncomfortable reality within the NDIS: some providers gravitate toward the easiest participants and the most straightforward money.
Usually, the individuals we support have been left behind by other services because they are considered "too complex," "too difficult," or "too much work." The people who need the most help are often the least commercially attractive to support—they require more administrative time, more frequent check-ins, and higher incidence reporting.
However, providing authentic, dedicated support to complex participants is precisely why we exist.
Positive Developments: The Rise of Lived Experience
Despite the political commentary, there are genuinely positive developments happening within the sector that do not receive nearly enough attention.
In particular, the growing recognition of lived experience as a legitimate, valuable form of knowledge and training is incredibly encouraging. People who have personally navigated adversity, disability, mental health challenges, or AOD issues bring something to support work that simply cannot be learned from a textbook.
That lived experience is finally being recognized for its true worth and therapeutic value.
What We Expect in the Short, Mid, and Long Term
As these policy shifts play out across the sector, here is what we anticipate moving forward:
- Shift to Community Programs: More children will likely transition off the NDIS and into foundational community initiatives like the new Thriving Kids program.
- Targeted Crackdowns on Fraud: Increased investigative journalism and regulatory pressure will clean up systemic fraud, driving much-needed savings back into the scheme.
- Continued Support for Complex Needs: Complex participants will continue to receive essential funding. If any participant experiences minor short-term plan reductions during intense reviews, we expect those funds to be reinstated upon review.
