One in 10 young children on NDIS as new disability scheme stalls
One in 10 young children in Australia are using the National Disability Insurance Scheme while federal and state governments remain caught up in negotiations over a new system that will offer alternative options for support.
The latest quarterly report on the $48 billion NDIS reveals the number of young participants has continued to jump as help outside the scheme remains scarce. Ten per cent of five- to seven-year-old children now rely on the NDIS for support, up from 8 per cent two years ago, with most seeking help for autism and developmental delays.
Families of young children have continued flocking to the scheme since a major review called for an overhaul of how disability support should be provided 18 months ago. Participation rates are highest among six-year-olds, of whom 11 per cent are currently on the NDIS: 15 per cent of Australian six-year-old boys and 7 per cent of girls the same age.
New Disability Minister Mark Butler and junior NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister met their state counterparts on Friday to progress planning on a new disability system, called 'foundational supports', which was recommended by the 2023 review and agreed to by the states.
But they are yet to resolve how they will delineate funding and responsibility for the new system, meaning it will not begin its phased launch by the July 1 deadline set by former NDIS minister Bill Shorten.
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The portfolio has changed hands twice since Shorten left in January, first to Amanda Rishworth, then to the team of Butler and McAllister in last month's cabinet reshuffle. The election also put a brake on negotiations.
Professor Andrew Whitehouse, an autism expert who also advises the government on school funding, said there had been a lull in progress and he was not surprised the number of children joining the scheme had continued to grow. Under-15s now make up 70 per cent of the scheme's new participants.
'In the absence of reform, the numbers of kids that require support and will be attracted to the NDIS as a mechanism for support will continue to grow. Without reform in the sector, we won't see a reverse in that trend,' he said.
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