How will the NDIS decide who to cut off?

This episode of ABC News Daily explores the impending overhaul of Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), focusing on how the government plans to determine which of the estimated 160,000 participants will be cut off. The discussion centers on a proposed shift from diagnosis-based eligibility to a functional capacity assessment, emphasizing real-world impact over medical labels. Jess Howlett, a 27-year-old with Level 2 autism, shares her personal reliance on NDIS-funded occupational therapy and psychology, expressing deep anxiety about losing support she cannot afford otherwise. Martin Laverty, a founding figure of the NDIS and CEO of Aruma, warns of a dangerous information vacuum, stressing that the government has not yet revealed the details of the upcoming functional assessment tool—likely based on the WHO’s HUDAS framework—nor how support needs will be measured. He calls for urgent clarity and collaboration between federal and state governments to prevent vulnerable people from being left without essential services. The episode underscores the human cost of policy ambiguity, with both Jess and Martin highlighting systemic flaws: the under-recognition of invisible disabilities like autism, the inadequacy of short-term GP care plans, and the risk of cutting support for people whose lives are stabilized by long-term, tailored assistance. Laverty advocates for a return to the NDIS’s original vision—assessing functional impairment rather than diagnosis—while urging the government to act transparently and responsibly. The episode concludes with a call to action: before sweeping reforms take effect in 2028, the public must know how decisions will be made, and safeguards must be in place to protect those who depend on the system.