I wanted to provide a quick update to my recent post, Why the NDIS is Failing People with Disabilities: My Letter to Minister Butler. I’m pleased to report that I received a response from Minister Mark Butler’s office regarding the letter I sent expressing my deep concerns about the current state of the NDIS, particularly the pricing reforms impacting therapy services and support provision.

In their reply, they acknowledged my request for a meeting but noted that due to the Minister’s parliamentary travel and other commitments, a meeting before mid to late September is not possible. They have offered to schedule a time later in the year, which I have accepted, requesting an extended slot of at least 60-90 minutes to accommodate my communication disability, which requires additional time for effective consultation.

The response also addressed the Annual Pricing Review, stating the government’s commitment to strengthening the NDIS and ensuring fair outcomes. It claimed the pricing adjustments aim to align NDIS therapy costs with mainstream systems like Medicare for equity. However, I’ve replied swiftly to challenge this comparison, emphasizing that the NDIS was created precisely because mainstream services are inadequate for people with disabilities. We don't receive the same services as the general population—we require specialized, disability-focused supports that mainstream systems cannot provide.

In my response, I highlighted several critical points:

• We Need More Complex and Longer Consultations: People with disabilities often require longer consultation times due to the complexity of our conditions and communication needs. A standard 20-minute Medicare appointment is inadequate when dealing with complex disabilities and multiple interconnected support needs.

• We Require Additional Support to Access Services: Attending any service requires NDIS assistance—support workers for transport, communication aids, and physical help. These costs don't exist for the general population but are essential for us. Cutting travel funding by 50% doesn't create equity—it makes services inaccessible.

• Medicare vs NDIS Are Fundamentally Different: Medicare psychology rebates are partial subsidies for mainstream mental health treatment, limited to 10 sessions annually, and exclude disability-related functional support. NDIS rates reflect the specialised, ongoing work needed for functional capacity building, which Medicare cannot match.

I also reiterated the real-world impact: two of my key providers are struggling—one unable to retain staff as workers leave the industry, and my therapist of six years facing unprofitability due to frozen fees and transport cost cuts, warning they may leave NDIS work if things don’t change. They also mentioned that increased administrative work outside billable hours is making their sole trader practice untenable. This threatens my independence and will cost the NDIS and Health System more in the long run due to increased reliance on emergency care and institutional support.

I stressed that forcing NDIS supports into mainstream pricing models undermines the scheme’s fundamental purpose and recreates the service gaps the NDIS was designed to eliminate. I’m committed to continuing this dialogue with Minister Butler and advocating for meaningful change. Stay tuned for further updates as we approach the meeting in late September. Thank you for your ongoing support.