Thank you to everyone who joined our online Q&A session and shared your questions. We know there is still a lot of uncertainty, and it can feel stressful when information is changing or limited.
On this page, we’ve listed the questions that were asked and the answers we were able to provide on the night. We’ll keep updating this page as new questions come in and as we can share more information.
We also want to acknowledge that for many people in our community, this has been a stressful time. Media reporting and big numbers can create a lot of worry, especially when details are still unclear. We wish there was more certainty to share right now.
We know many people and families have been navigating the NDIS for years and have lived through multiple changes. That can be exhausting and at times it has taken significant effort just to access reviews and the supports people need. Trust matters, and we know the system has work to do to rebuild confidence with people who rely on it.
We’ll keep working through these changes with you. If this page isn’t answering what you need, please tell us. Your feedback helps us improve what we share and how we share it.
Need support? Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support is available not only for employees, but for anyone in the Melba community to access. Please reach out to your Melba contact if you’d like to access this support. If you have follow-up questions or feedback, email communications below.
A functional needs assessment looks at what support a person needs in everyday life. It’s essentially asking: “What do I need to live my life my way?” It focuses on how disability affects day to day living and quality of life.
We don’t have confirmed details yet about exactly who will conduct the assessments and how this will work in practice. What we do know is there are established functional needs assessment tools and approaches, backed by research, and used across disability services.
We’re hoping this won’t be about algorithms making decisions. A good functional needs assessment should reflect real life, not force people into a one size fits all outcome. One key shift being discussed is moving away from a diagnosis based approach (for example: “if you have X diagnosis, you get Y supports”) and instead focusing on what the person actually needs day to day. A big part will be how needs are translated into funded supports in a plan. This is why advocacy is important, and why we’ll keep sharing updates as details are confirmed.
We know many people already view the NDIS as complex, and that uncertainty can add extra stress. We’ll keep sharing clear updates and practical information as changes are confirmed, and we’ll keep creating opportunities for questions and feedback so we can communicate in the ways that work best for people, families and employees.
Historically, “closed settings” has been used to describe higher risk environments where safeguards are especially important. This may include situations where a provider supports a person in their home (including shared living arrangements), but the final definition may be broader. The intent of tighter registration in higher risk settings is to strengthen safeguards this should not remove choice and control.
For now, keep doing what you already do, providing great support. Some parts of the system may change over time, but we don’t have enough confirmed detail yet to say exactly what will change and when. We’ll share practical updates as soon as we have them.
We don’t have all the detail yet. The direction that has been discussed includes returning the scheme to its original intent: supporting people with significant, lifelong disability and complex needs. If a person needs one-to-one support, and this is clearly evidenced through a strong functional needs assessment and supporting information, we would expect that level of need to be recognised. We can also help people and families prepare the right information to support plan conversations and reviews.
Our priority does not change: people always come first. What may change is how we respond as more detail is confirmed. This reform environment is moving quickly, so we need to stay flexible, keep listening, and be ready to adapt as rules and processes become clearer.
NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (the scheme itself). NDIA is the National Disability Insurance Agency (the agency that runs the scheme).
We need more detail to answer this definitively. We know rural and remote settings can face extra barriers, so it’s important location and access issues are considered as reforms roll out. We’ll keep working with our regional teams and community to understand impacts early and advocate strongly for what people need. (For clarity: CP can refer to community participation, and SIL refers to Supported Independent Living.)
Requirements are changing and expanding over time, and the direction being discussed includes stronger baseline safeguards, especially in higher risk settings. We expect worker screening checks to become more common, but we need final detail about exactly what will be required and when.
We don’t have enough confirmed information yet to give a clear answer. There has been discussion about new models and terms (for example, “navigators”), but we need more detail before we can say what will change and when. We’ll share updates as soon as we have them.
We can’t answer this with certainty because details are still being confirmed, and headlines can cause unnecessary panic. What has been stated publicly is a focus on the original intent of the scheme and a shift toward functional needs assessment, where diagnosis matters less than day to day functional support needs. We’ll share clearer guidance when official details are confirmed.
We can’t confirm this. Feedback and complaints can go through different pathways, and experiences can vary. We don’t have reliable information to make a definite claim either way.
The intention appears to be clearer baseline requirements, likely including worker screening checks and potentially training especially for higher risk supports. We already have safeguarding requirements in place, and we’ll keep monitoring what changes as more detail becomes available.
We don’t have enough detail yet. The only information shared so far is that a digital payment and claims gateway is planned. In principle, stronger payment visibility can improve safeguards and oversight, but we need to see how it’s designed and implemented before we can comment on impacts like delays or extra admin.
We don’t yet know what the final model will look like. But if there are new requirements for Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, we’ll do what’s needed to meet them. We’ll also keep staying close to updates and sector advocacy as details are confirmed.
We hope so, but we don’t yet have the details about eligibility and how the fund will operate. As more information becomes available, we’ll look at opportunities to support good community participation and inclusion.
Safeguards and integrity are part of the reform discussion, and we understand why. There are concerns about poor-quality or unsafe practice, and reforms include stronger “guardrails” and tighter regulation in higher risk areas. At the same time, changes need to be handled carefully so they don’t reduce choice and control or harm people who rely on the scheme. The proof will be in how reforms are designed and implemented.
We’ll share updates in a range of ways, including website updates, community communications (including Melba Community News), keeping frontline employees updated, and running Q&A sessions when helpful. If you want to go to the source, the NDIS website publishes fact sheets (including plain English and Easy Read). We’ll keep sharing links through our channels.
Advocacy will be important as reforms roll out. Melba is involved in sector advocacy, and we also rely on feedback from the community about what changes mean in real life. Practical examples and case studies help decision makers understand impacts. If you want to share your experience to support advocacy work, we’ll continue to provide ways for people and families to do that.
