The Australian Government (under NDIS Minister Mark Butler) has proposed major reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in 2026. These are some of the biggest changes since the scheme began.
Proposed reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme are set to reshape disability support across Australia, with growing concern among families in Sydney’s north-west.
NDIS Minister Mark Butler says the changes are needed to control rising costs and protect the scheme into the future. The NDIS now supports more than 750,000 people nationwide and costs over 50 billion dollars each year.
Key proposed changes
New eligibility rules (biggest change)
- A move away from diagnosis-based access
- Introduce standardised assessments of functional capacity (what a person can/can’t do daily)
- About 160,000 people could lose eligibility by 2030
The biggest shift is how people qualify. Access will move away from medical diagnosis and instead focus on functional capacity, meaning what a person can do in everyday life. This could see many people with lower support needs moved out of the scheme over time.
In fast growing areas like Castle Hill, Kellyville and Box Hill, families rely heavily on NDIS funded therapies and services. Under the proposed changes, some children may be redirected into new support programs, while others could face reassessment and reduced funding.
While the government says the reforms will make the system fairer and more sustainable, disability advocates warn some people may lose vital support.
For The Hills Shire community, the message is clear. The changes could have a real impact on local families and services in the years ahead.
