Australia's NDIS reform raises sustainability and gender equity worries

The Australian government is moving to a second phase of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reform aimed at stabilising the scheme’s finances. The plan introduces tighter rules on unscheduled reassessments and plan roll‑overs, stronger evidence requirements for claims, and closer scrutiny of intermediaries to curb unchecked growth and improve value‑for‑money.

Advocacy groups warn the changes will slash eligibility and cut community‑participation funding, potentially reducing NDIS participants to about 598,000 by 2030/31. Critics say the cuts will shift costs onto families, especially women who make up over 71 % of primary carers. Reduced funding for social and community activities could force unpaid carers to increase their support, harming women’s workforce participation and well‑being.