24-06-2025
Allied health providers say NDIS price, travel review will hurt vulnerable in Kimberley, Pilbara
Allied health providers across Western Australia's remote north say residents will be disproportionately hit by a recent review of NDIS services and allowances.
The review, announced earlier this month, flagged cuts to some allied health services, as well as a reduction of claimable travel time by 50 per cent.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) stated that, in some cases, price limits were up to 68 per cent higher than market value prior to the review.
Having already lost access to some NDIS-funded services for her two daughters, Wickham mother Janel Went is concerned the support available in their community, 1,570km north of Perth, will be reduced even further.
"We access speech therapy, occupational therapy, a dietician, physiotherapy — we access quite a few different services through them," she said.
"We've actually already lost one of our OTs who came out."
Ms Went said suggested alternatives, including driving long distances to sessions or telehealth, were not viable.
Ms Went said she wanted to see the NDIA consult with regional residents on the changes.
"I just think the NDIA really needs to speak to families," she said.
"They've looked at figures rather than understanding the impacts that it has on the families — especially families in the rural regions."
Local providers told the ABC that NDIS participants made up to 60 per cent of their client base in some cases.
Industry figures say the removal of that income stream could leave some practices and businesses contemplating closure.
Caitlin Breheny, director of Karratha-based Connect Paediatric Services, said the reductions to claimable travel costs were unsustainable.
"We can't, as a business, travel to communities in western remote WA that are not just 20 minutes away — they're sometimes three, four or five hours away," Ms Breheny said.
Mr Breheny's business has serviced families as remote as Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands for a number of years, support she said might come to an end due to the review.
Fly2 Health services remote communities throughout WA, including Balgo, 1,800km north-east of Perth, and a three-hour drive from the nearest town.
Chief executive Kennedy Lay said Fly2 Health was reviewing policies internally as a result of the pricing review.
"It may mean that there are some communities that are just not viable to go to," he said.
Mr Lay said services like Fly2 Health withdrawing from Balgo could mean residents would need to travel thousands of kilometres for treatment.
The closest commercial flight to Perth is via Kununurra, a near-seven-hour drive.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the NDIA said it was important participants were paying prices in line with industry standards.
"We heard from participants that excessive travel claims for therapy-related services are draining participants' plans faster than expected," the spokesperson said.
"The updated therapy travel claiming rules encourage more efficient scheduling by providers and provide clear cost expectations for participants to help them get better value from their funding."
Disability Services Minister Hannah Beazley said the state government was working on a solution.
"The WA government is working with the Commonwealth government and the NDIA to try and find solutions to pricing in regional and remote areas, or areas where there are service gaps," Ms Beazley said in a statement.
"The Cook Labor government is committed to advocating for a pricing model that meets WA's operating environment and unique needs."
