Between the 2023–24 and 2024–25 budgets, we’ve seen a mix of reforms, digital upgrades, and funding boosts. Yes, these efforts are a step forward. But are they the structural reset the sector so desperately needs? Not quite.
There’s no denying the NDIS is in need of reform. Costs are ballooning, participant outcomes are uneven, and the system has long been criticised for complexity and inconsistency.
If you look beyond the government’s budget gloss, a far more concerning picture emerges — one of rising compliance burdens, systemic underfunding, centralised control, and an accelerating squeeze on both providers and the people they serve.
