Urgent Call for New Disability Supports: Why Foundational Care is Crucial Now

Australia’s Disability System at a Crossroads

Australia’s disability support system is undergoing major changes. Governments have committed to introducing a new layer of assistance called Foundational Supports. These supports are designed for people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

These changes come alongside broader reforms aimed at making the NDIS more sustainable for the long term. The vision is for the NDIS to be part of a wider network of services, not the sole provider for every person with disability.

The Critical Need for Foundational Supports

The success of these reforms hinges on one vital factor: Foundational Supports for adults must be fully in place before the NDIS reforms significantly impact participants and service access. This is a key message from industry advocates.

The original intent of the NDIS was never to support every person with disability. Instead, it was meant to work within a larger “ecosystem” of services. However, the Independent Review of the NDIS highlighted a major problem: these broader services are often fragmented, hard to find, or simply don’t exist.

This lack of broader support leaves many people without meaningful assistance, which in turn puts more pressure on the NDIS itself. When people can’t get help elsewhere, they may seek to access the NDIS, sometimes when their needs could be met through different, earlier interventions.

A $10 Billion Commitment, But Timing is Everything

Governments have acknowledged this challenge. The Australian Government has confirmed that all states and territories will work together to deliver Foundational Supports. This includes general supports for all people with disability and targeted help for those with specific needs who don’t qualify for the NDIS.

A significant investment of $10 billion over five years has been committed through a National Agreement. While this funding is a positive step, experts warn that the timing of its implementation is crucial.

As NDIS reforms continue, the Scheme is expected to focus more tightly on those with significant and permanent disability. This means more people may find themselves relying on support systems outside the NDIS.

If Foundational Supports are not fully operational when these changes take effect, Australians with disability could face significant gaps in assistance. These gaps could seriously impact their independence, their ability to participate in their community, and their overall wellbeing.

The NDIS Review made it clear: without appropriate non-NDIS supports, people experience poorer outcomes, and the entire disability system faces additional strain. This issue also impacts other essential services like health, mental health, housing, and the justice system, as unmet needs often shift demand to these areas.

Ensuring Quality and Safety for All

Beyond simply providing supports, there’s another crucial element: a consistent quality framework. Within the NDIS, there are established quality and safeguarding systems, including provider standards, regulatory oversight by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and consumer protections. These systems aim to ensure participants receive safe and high-quality services.

However, outside the NDIS, quality requirements can vary wildly depending on how services are funded. This means someone receiving similar support but funded differently might have a very different level of oversight and protection.

As Foundational Supports are developed to serve a large number of people who are not NDIS participants, this inconsistency becomes even more critical. Introducing these new supports without a robust quality framework risks creating a two-tiered system.

In such a system, access to essential safeguards would depend on how support is funded, rather than on an individual’s actual needs. Embedding strong quality requirements from the very beginning would ensure consistency, build public confidence, and protect some of Australia’s most vulnerable citizens.

What This Means for You

The current disability reform agenda presents a unique opportunity to build a truly connected system of support across Australia. To achieve this, governments must ensure that Foundational Supports for adults are ready and available *before* people transition out of, or are prevented from entering, the NDIS.

Just as importantly, these new supports need to operate under a comprehensive quality framework. This framework should guarantee safety, accountability, and consistent quality for everyone, regardless of where their support funding comes from.

Advocacy groups are urging for these steps to be taken without delay, stressing that every Australian with disability deserves appropriate support, and the peace of mind that this support meets a high, consistent standard of safety and quality.

As these reforms unfold, it’s vital for NDIS participants, families, carers, and disability service providers to stay informed about what Foundational Supports mean for access to services and the quality of care. Understanding these changes will help you navigate the evolving landscape of disability support in Australia.

Hazel Chen

I work in marketing and communications for NDISLocal, helping connect NDIS participants, families, and providers with clear, useful information about the sector. I'm passionate about making the NDIS easier to understand and navigate, and about giving disability service providers a platform to reach the people who need them. If you'd like to know more about anything covered in this post, or you're a provider interested in being featured, feel free to get in touch.