What the 2025 Federal Election Means for the NDIS
As Australia heads towards the 2025 federal election (due before May 17), the disability community is watching closely. With significant reforms already underway and more changes on the horizon, now is the time to understand what’s happening in the NDIS space and how it might impact you, your family, or your community.
This blog unpacks the latest updates and what to expect moving forward.
Why the Election Matters for the Disability Sector
The outcome of the 2025 federal election will shape the future of disability supports in Australia.
Key issues at stake include:
NDIS funding and long-term sustainability
The NDIS is one of the biggest social reforms in Australian history, aiming to give people with disability more choice and control over the support they receive. However, as the number of participants has grown, so has the cost of delivering the Scheme.
To ensure the NDIS is financially sustainable for future generations, the government is:
Setting clearer boundaries around what the NDIS should and shouldn’t fund
Improving systems to reduce misuse, fraud, and waste
Investing in foundational supports and community services so the NDIS doesn’t carry the full burden of disability support in Australia
What this means for you:
NDIS funding is still available and important — but expect to see more scrutiny on how plans are built and what’s considered “reasonable and necessary.” It’s important to have clearly written goals and evidence of how supports link to your disability.
A new model of “Foundational Supports” for people not eligible for the NDIS
Not everyone with a disability or developmental delay will be eligible for an NDIS plan. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t need support.
Foundational Supports are services and programs designed to help all people with disability — whether they’re in the NDIS or not.
These might include:
Peer groups or disability-specific playgroups
Parent or carer training
Therapy groups, mentoring, or early intervention supports
School holiday programs, sport, or community inclusion activities
The government is currently working with states and territories to design a national approach to foundational supports, with trials expected to begin in 2025.
What this means for you:
If you don’t qualify for an NDIS plan (or your child doesn’t yet), these types of supports may soon become easier to access through your local community or school. They are designed to be low-barrier, inclusive, and available earlier to prevent people from falling through the cracks.
Workforce challenges across the disability sector
The demand for disability support workers, therapists, and other specialists is increasing — but the workforce isn’t growing fast enough to keep up.
Key issues include:
Low pay and insecure working conditions for frontline staff
Long waitlists for therapy, assessments, and support coordination
Fewer professionals working in rural, remote, or Aboriginal communities
Burnout among providers and support workers
To address this, the government and sector are looking at:
Removing barriers to employment (e.g. non-compete clauses that stop workers from changing jobs)
Building a more diverse and skilled workforce including people with disability, culturally diverse workers, and First Nations staff
Creating clearer career pathways and ongoing professional development
What this means for you:
You might find it harder to recruit or keep consistent support workers, especially in regional areas. Don’t be discouraged — but do try to build relationships with services that are committed to quality, consistency, and person-centred support.
Reforms to the way support is accessed and delivered
A lot of recent NDIS changes are focused on making the system more consistent, fair, and transparent.
This includes:
“Framework Plans”: From September 2025, new types of plans will be introduced based on a person’s functional assessment, rather than just their diagnosis or what they request in a planning meeting.
Tighter eligibility rules: The NDIS is now more clearly defining what is considered a disability-related need. This might mean some supports are no longer funded unless clearly linked to your diagnosis.
Plan management changes: The NDIA can now change how a person manages their plan if they believe funds are being misused.
Mandatory registration for providers: More providers will need to be registered through the NDIS Commission, which means increased safety, compliance, and oversight.
What this means for you:
There may be more paperwork and assessment involved, especially if you’re new to the Scheme. However, the goal is to create a fairer and more accountable system that meets the needs of all participants — not just those who know how to ‘work the system.’
Advocacy groups like People with Disability Australia (PWDA) are calling on all political parties to prioritise funding security, consistency, and accessibility across both the NDIS and mainstream support systems. Learn more about their advocacy here.
What’s Happening in the NDIS Right Now?
There are a number of major changes either in place or about to roll out. These include:
NDIS Legislative Reform - Co-design
Last week the NDIS announced starting April 2025, they will refining their co-design efforts to focus on the most critical NDIS reforms. This change ensures people with disability are involved in shaping how changes to the Scheme are delivered.
Key focus areas the co-design will work on:
Navigation
Assessment and budgeting
Participant pathway and experience
Participant safeguarding
Co-design groups working on these areas will continue from April to December 2025.
Other co-design groups will pause until the next phase of reform. These include:
Home and living
Integrity
Workforce capability
Ongoing engagement
The NDIS have also promised to continue to consult and engage on all other topics through:
Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCO) Forum
Independent Advisory Council (IAC) and its reference groups
NDIA reference and advisory groups
Expert and participant workshops
This will include more opportunities for participants, their families, carers, and supporters to get involved.
Learn More about the Co-designing reform | NDIS
Federal Budget and Funding Initiatives
The 2025–26 Federal Budget includes:
$364.5 million to rebuild the Information, Linkages, and Capacity Building (ILC) program
$151 million to reduce fraud and improve NDIA systems
Funding for work to begin on foundational supports and workforce strategies
These investments reflect a shift toward a more accountable and sustainable NDIS, while recognising the need to strengthen mainstream community supports too.
Want to know more? So did we! Weve broken this down further for you.. read on!
NDIS in Caretaker Period
As of 28 March 2025, the Australian Government has entered the caretaker period ahead of the federal election scheduled for 3 May 2025. This period has specific implications for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its stakeholders.
The caretaker period commences when the House of Representatives is dissolved and continues until a new government is formed. During this time, the government operates under the caretaker conventions, which are guidelines ensuring that major policy decisions, significant appointments, and major contracts or undertakings are not made, to avoid binding an incoming government. Routine administration and essential services continue as usual.
What This Means for the NDIS
During the caretaker period, the NDIS continues to function, but with certain limitations:
No Major Policy Decisions: The government avoids making significant policy decisions that could bind the incoming government.
Routine Operations Continue: Day-to-day operations and services of the NDIS proceed as normal.
Limited Announcements: Public communications are restricted to necessary updates, avoiding any that could be seen as political.
Implications for Participants and Providers
For NDIS participants and service providers, the caretaker period means:
Continuity of Services: Existing NDIS plans and services continue without interruption.
No New Major Initiatives: Introduction of new programs or significant changes are on hold until after the election.
Potential Delays: Decisions on major contracts or policy changes may be deferred, possibly affecting timelines for certain initiatives.
How to Stay Informed
NDIS changes can be confusing, but there are lots of resources to help:
📌 Check the NDIS News Hub
For official updates on reforms, guidelines, and changes
www.ndis.gov.au/news
📌 Follow Trusted Advocacy Groups
Organisations like People with Disability Australia and National Disability Services provide great election coverage and advocacy tools
📌 Ask Your Support Coordinator
If you have a support coordinator, they can help you prepare for planning meetings, understand your rights, and adjust your goals based on changes
📌 Join Local Conversations
If you live in a regional area, community-based disability networks (like the Pilbara Disability Network ) often hold free meetings and consultations to help you understand changes in a local context.
Final Thoughts
Big changes are happening - but that doesn’t mean you need to face them alone. As always, our team at The Inclusive Movement is here to help break down the information, provide clarity, and advocate alongside you.
This is an important moment for our community. Your voice matters. Your story matters. And together, we can help shape a more inclusive, accessible, and responsive future for people with disability across Australia.
