Following Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler’s address at the National Press Club this week, the Australasian Society for Developmental Pediatrics (ASDP) has responded to the Australian Government’s proposed reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The ASDP recognizes the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS while delivering meaningful outcomes for children and families. The Society says that while the direction of the reform is becoming clear, important details regarding implementation remain unresolved.
As developmental pediatricians work with children and families on the front lines to meet complex needs, improvements should strengthen – not disrupt – access to timely, evidence-based developmental care.
Dr Katie Heathershaw, President, ASDP
Refocusing the NDIS on functional need
The ASDP supports a move away from diagnosis as the primary entry point to the NDIS, and a return to the original intention of the plan to support individuals with significantly reduced functional capacity.
“Diagnosis alone does not determine a child’s needs.” Dr. Heathershaw said. “Two children with the same diagnosis may have significantly different levels of functional impact. Evaluation should focus on the child’s abilities, strengths, and challenges in daily living, communication, behavior, and participation.”
The Society notes that a functional approach has the potential to improve equity and better target support. However, more clarity is needed on how functional capacity will be assessed in children, including whether assessment tools are evidence-based, consistent, and appropriate for developmental and fluctuating situations. It will also be important to ensure that these tools are suitable for use by children from different cultures, including non-English speaking backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
Early intervention must remain central
The ASDP acknowledges the Government’s focus on strengthening earlier supports outside the NDIS, including developing the foundational supports offered under the Thriving Kids program.
“Early identification and targeted support are critical for lifelong outcomes,” Dr. Heathershaw said. “If supports are transferred outside the NDIS, they should be consistent, equitable, accessible and based on developmental expertise.”
The Society notes that these systems are not yet fully established and will require coordinated implementation across state and federal systems.
Delays in accessing early support during critical developmental periods can have lasting impacts on health, education and participation outcomes.
A healthy NDIS for the future
ASDP is particularly concerned about the risk of service gaps during the transition to new models of care. Without clear and timely implementation of alternative supports, there is a risk that children and families may experience delays in accessing essential services.
The Society also highlights the need to rebuild community-based support pathways for children with mild to moderate needs, including early childhood, school and preschool-based services, many of which have been reduced over time as the system has shifted towards the NDIS.
The ASDP emphasizes that successful reform depends on investment in workforce capacity, including developmental pediatricians and allied health professionals, noting that a functional assessment model requires time, expertise, and multidisciplinary input.
“We share the government’s goal of a fair, sustainable system,” Dr. Heathershaw said. “Ensuring continuity of access to support for children, particularly during early developmental stages, will be critical to achieving that goal.”
ASDP welcomes the opportunity to work with the Government to ensure that reforms are informed by clinical expertise and based on the real experience of children and families.
