PWDA National Community Forum summary and next steps
Friday 8 May
On Thursday 7 May, PWDA hosted a national online community forum to discuss the proposed NDIS changes. The forum was a space for members, people with disability, families, supporters, providers and disability organisations to come together and for PWDA to share what is currently known, be honest about what remains uncertain, and outline how we are advocating alongside the community.
We are grateful to everyone who attended the forum and shared their experiences, concerns and reflections.
Jump to:
- What we know
- What we don't know
- Key themes from community discussion
- How you can take action
- Sign the petitions
PWDA President Jeramy Hope opened the forum with a welcome and reflecting on the very real impact the NDIS has on the lives of people with disability, including his own family. He acknowledged that for many people, including himself and his daughter, the NDIS provides the essential supports that make everyday life, participation and independence possible.
PWDA Acting CEO Megan Spindler-Smith echoed this sentiment and acknowledged that people with disability are feeling scared, angry and uncertain about the future of the NDIS, with many worried about whether they will continue to receive the supports they rely on for everyday life.
Megan acknowledged that how the NDIS and people with disability are being talked about in communication around the proposed changes in public spaces has left people feeling deeply frustrated.
Summary of what we know
The current Federal Government has announced a reform plan called Securing the NDIS for Future Generations.
Announced on Wednesday 22 April through an address at the National Press Club by Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing Mark Butler along with a factsheet on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
The Government says their reform agenda has 4 pillars:
- fighting fraud and stopping rorts
- slowing cost increases
- clearer eligibility requirements
- delivering quality services and supports
The Government has said it will introduce legislation after the Federal Budget is released on Tuesday 12 May. Aiming to have that legislation passed by 30 June.
The Government has stated changes will be phased in over time. However, the tighter criteria for unscheduled plan reassessments would commence 7 days after Royal Assent - which if the 30 June deadline is reached could be as early as July.
From what has been released so far, we know the Government is looking at:
- tighter eligibility rules
- standardised functional capacity assessments
- removing diagnosis lists as a pathway into the NDIS
- changes to what is considered reasonable and necessary supports
- cuts to social and community participation funding
- a new $200 million Inclusive Communities Fund intended to fund community organisations participation activities. There is little detail on what this fund will provide.
- expanded provider registration
- new payment and oversight systems
- and new boundaries between the NDIS, mainstream services and foundational supports
The Government has said these changes will be rolled out over time.
Some existing reforms have also been delayed with new framework planning now rolling out from April 2027.
By 2030, there may be a reduction to around 600,000 participants, this means that at least 160,000 people may be removed from the scheme over time and these changes could significantly reduce access to support, including through reductions to community participation funding.
The Coalition has indicated it will support the reforms. What we don't know yet is whether that support will include amendments. That means legislation could pass quickly.
Learn more by reading our blog 'What we know so far about the latest NDIS changes'.
What we don't know
There is a lot of information we do not know yet:
- Who will lose access to the NDIS, or not gain access in the future
- How functional assessments will work in practice
- How decisions will be made and reviewed
- supports will exist outside the NDIS and who will be eligible for them
- Whether those supports will be available where people live
- How people will transition safely between systems
- What safeguards will apply if decisions are wrong
- Whether people will retain full access to independent appeals
- When each change will apply to individuals and how quickly people may be affected
Key themes from the community discussion
We are grateful to everyone who attended and shared their experiences, concerns and reflections. Your voices matter. Your insights and experiences will help inform PWDA's ongoing advocacy and ensure the voices of people with disability continue to shape our response to the proposed NDIS changes.
We asked four questions to guide our community discussion.
- What do you still not know about the NDIS changes that is causing you the most concern?
- What information, linked to the changes, do you need from PWDA and how would you like to receive it?
- What actions should our community take next?
- How can we treat each other with care during this time?
Throughout the discussion, community members spoke about the fear, uncertainty and frustration many people with disability are feeling in response to the proposed NDIS changes and the lack of clear information about what these reforms may mean in practice.
Many people spoke about the anxiety of not knowing what supports may be removed, and what safety nets would exist if they were.
A major concern raised was the risk of people with disability falling through gaps without equivalent services or safeguards in place.
Where are people supposed to go for supports if they are removed and we've already got people with disabilities falling through the cracks and gaps with no supports?
Participants expressed deep concerns about proposed standardised assessments and algorithm-based decision-making, with many questioning whether these systems can ever reflect the realities and complexities of disability.
There were repeated calls for human oversight, supported decision-making and accessible communication throughout all NDIS processes.
Many participants expressed feeling reduced to budget figures in public and political conversations about the NDIS. There was widespread frustration about growing ableism, stigma and harmful narratives around people with disability - particularly the ongoing focus on fraud and so-called "rorts".
Another strong theme was the emotional and financial toll of constantly having to "prove" disability through reassessments, reports and reviews. Community members described these processes as retraumatising, costly and exhausting.
Participants emphasised that the NDIS funds much more than basic care. Supports were described as essential for safety, independence, connection, dignity and participation in community life.
The discussion highlighted concerns about how reforms may disproportionately affect regional and remote communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people with disability, people with psychosocial disability, and people with intellectual disability.
Many participants raised fears about increasing reliance on unpaid family members and informal supports, particularly for people who do not have strong family networks or carers to rely on. Concerns were also raised about workforce shortages, provider quality and the future availability of skilled support workers.
Frustration with existing NDIA bureaucracy, inconsistent decision-making and repeated reassessments was another recurring issue throughout the conversation.
Community members repeatedly stressed the importance of genuine co-design and ensuring the principle of "nothing about us without us" is meaningfully reflected in all reform processes.
Nothing about us without us is meant to mean people with disability are involved in decision-making processes.
There were also strong calls for transparency, clearer communication and proper safeguards before any changes move forward.
Despite the challenges and uncertainty, attendees also reflected on the strength of community solidarity and collective advocacy during this period. Participants spoke about the importance of supporting one another and ensuring people with disability remain at the centre of decisions that affect their lives.
I've never felt so grateful for being part of the community coming together right now. What's happening is tough, what's hopeful is witnessing 'nothing about us without us' in action - the collective push to be leading and designing reform, not merely being subjected to it.
How you can take action with PWDA
PWDA is building public pressure through our Reasonable. Necessary. Ordinary. campaign.
So far, more than 100 people have shared their stories, more than 300 emails have been sent to MPs and decision-makers, and more than 12,000 people have signed our change.org petition.
These stories matter.
They show what the NDIS really funds and the impact of these cuts.
Take action today
Sign our petitions to stop the NDIS cuts. PWDA has two petitions. We are encouraging people to sign both.
One builds public pressure.
The other creates a permanent record.
PWDA Change.org petition
It has more than 12,000 signatures and shows the level of public concern. We intend to present this to our supporters in Parliament during Budget week.
PWDA Parliamentary e-petition
This is important because it becomes part of the official parliamentary record and is formally tabled in Parliament. This petition closes on 30 May 2026.
Email your MP and ask them to protect the NDIS
