11 June 2025

Big NDIS Changes, New Ministers, and Your Chance to Speak Up

Dear Supporters,

We hope you're well.

A lot has changed since our last newsletter. We have a new Parliament, new Ministers, and the NDIS now sits in a new Government department. 

We also have new rules affecting our NDIS plans and there are more changes to come. 

So it is more important than ever to keep up-to-date with all the changes and to speak up about how all of these changes are affecting you. It's a lot to get across, but don't worry, we're here to help.

In this update we cover the new NDIS funded periods, we will update you on the work we have been doing to have your concerns heard in the codesign work and provide an opportunity for you to have your say on the revised NDIS support lists. We even have a PAID opportunity to have your say on mandatory registration. And we wrap up with a good news story about the NDIS, because we also need to remember the good stuff!

Let's start with the new government and what it means for our NDIS

In this Reasonable & Necessary podcast, Independent Chair of Every Australian Counts, Dr George is joined by El Gibbs, Trinity Ford and Anna Burke to unpack the changes and what they mean for people with disability. Check it out below:

The panel discusses:

• The implications of the NDIS being moved to the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care
• Concerns about new impairment notices
• The impact of funding periods and prescriptive support lists

The panel explains that while the changes within the government and Parliament will bring challenges, they will also provide new opportunities for the needs of our community to be heard. They also stress that co-design must involve real, shared decision-making and that unity within the disability advocacy sector is essential to push for meaningful change.

New Ministers: Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister

The NDIS now has two new Ministers:

• The Hon. Mark Butler MP as Minister for Health and Ageing, Disability and the NDIS
  

• Senator Jenny McAllister as Minister for the NDIS
  

We’ve already reached out to both with a simple ask: share what you plan to achieve, and listen to the voices of people with disability. We’ll share their responses with you as soon as we get them. 

New NDIS Funding Rules: What’s Changed, Why It Matters

From 19 May, the way NDIS funds are released has shifted. Rather than receiving your full plan budget at once, funds will now roll out in smaller chunks, usually every three months.

This change, made under Section 33 of the NDIS Act, is already causing confusion and concern.

In this article we break it down - how funding periods work, and what you can do if you need longer funding periods or more funding available for claiming at the start of your plan.

Tell the Government What the “In and Out” lists Mean for You

The Government will soon decide the final version of the “In and Out” lists - what the NDIS will and won’t fund.

We’ve launched a survey to take your experience straight to decision-makers. It’s your chance to say what’s working, what’s not, and what needs fixing before these rules are locked in.

NDIS Co-Design: Still Too Top-Down

Nick Avery, our Codesign Lead, has been deep in meetings with the NDIA and Department of Social Services. There’s potential - but too often, the process still misses the mark.

We’re calling for a diversity of voices, and to ensure that all changes are trauma-informed and respectful. Because co-design only works when the people most affected are shaping it from the start.

Are you an NDIS Participant? Get paid to have your say

Join a 90-minute online focus group and share your thoughts about some changes being made to disability services and the NDIS including mandatory registration for Supported Independent Living, Support Co-ordination and Platform Providers. No prep needed - just your experience.

You'll receive $90 for your time and your feedback will stay confidential. Run by Painted Dog Research to help the NDIS Commission improve how changes are communicated and delivered.

Inside an SRS: A Firsthand Story of Institutional Living

One of our supporters has written a raw, honest piece about life inside a Supported Residential Service - and the difference it made when they finally moved into individualised NDIS funded housing.

It’s a powerful reminder that housing isn’t just about bricks and mortar - it’s about dignity, safety, and hope for the future.

As we wrap up this edition of the newsletter, our steering committee wants to say a couple of things. 

Firstly, we want to take a moment to thank Corri McKenzie for her contribution to the NDIS. Corri recently finished in her role as Deputy CEO, Service Design and Improvement at the NDIA. We will miss her respectful approach and her commitment to listening to our concerns and working alongside us. Many people in our community who had the opportunity to work with Corri appreciated her kind and thoughtful approach to her work, and we wish her all the best for the future.

We also want to say that we know things are tough right now for many people with disability and our families. But we also know we are stronger when we stick together. Positive change happens when we speak up, listen to each other, and treat each other with kindness and respect.

Thank you for everything you do as a supporter of EAC and for standing with us. Let’s continue to advocate for our community together, respecting our differences and recognising that we we all want the same outcome – an NDIS that delivers the promise of choice and control, our human rights and a good life for people with disabilities.

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