Policy context

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was first rolled out nationally in 2016 and marked a fundamental shift in Australian social policy. The scheme adopts a market-based approach to enable Australians with disability to access supports that increase independence and support participation in daily life. Central to this scheme is the principle of ‘reasonable and necessary’ support, which ensures that funding is specifically allocated to services, items and equipment that directly relate to a participant’s functional impairment and long-term aspirations.¹

By providing this lifetime guarantee of support, the NDIS aims to increase social outcomes, individual outcomes, increase independence and give people choice and control.² To ensure the scheme remains sustainable and effective, the NDIS is currently undergoing significant reforms, specifically targeting improved outcomes for children through the ‘Thriving Kids’ initiative.⁴ This reform prioritises evidence-based, early intervention for children eight and under, shifting the focus toward developmental supports that empower families and foster long term independence and ensures that children and their families are able to access services from the system tailored to their needs.⁴ As more participants become active and utilise their funded supports, the scheme can better track improvements in areas such as the workforce entry for both participants and their carers.³ This indicator is important for assessing the overall sustainability and success of the NDIS in transforming the lives of people with disability from passive recipients of care into active members of the Australian community.