Key Takeaways:
- The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is undergoing significant changes to its support plan generation process, which will be largely automated and reduce human involvement.
- The changes, set to be rolled out in 2026, have been criticized by advocates as "robo-planning" that risks the lives of NDIS participants.
- The new system will use a computer algorithm to generate funding and support plans, with limited ability for staff to amend them.
- The changes also limit the rights of participants to appeal decisions about their funding, with the administrative review tribunal (ART) no longer able to alter a person’s plan or reinstate funding.
- Advocates are calling on the government to rethink the changes, citing concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential harm to NDIS participants.
Introduction to the Changes
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is set to undergo significant changes to its support plan generation process, which will be largely automated and reduce human involvement. The changes, which are set to be rolled out in 2026, have been criticized by advocates as "robo-planning" that risks the lives of NDIS participants. The new system will use a computer algorithm to generate funding and support plans, with limited ability for staff to amend them. This has raised concerns among advocates, who argue that the changes will lead to a lack of flexibility and responsiveness to the individual needs of NDIS participants.
Criticism from Advocates
Advocates have been vocal in their criticism of the changes, with many expressing concerns about the potential harm to NDIS participants. Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for disability inclusion and the NDIS, has criticized the government for making the sweeping changes to the scheme without proper consultation or testing. He argues that the changes will lead to a lack of transparency and accountability, and that the use of a computer algorithm to generate funding and support plans will result in a "one-size-fits-all" approach that fails to take into account the individual needs of participants. Dr. George Taleporos, independent chair of Every Australian Counts, has also expressed concerns about the changes, arguing that they will undermine the fairness and accountability of the NDIS.
The New Framework Planning Model
The changes to the NDIS are part of the New Framework Planning model, which is set to be rolled out in 2026. Under this model, the administrative review tribunal (ART) will no longer have the authority to alter a person’s plan or reinstate funding. Instead, the ART will only be able to send the plan back to the NDIA for the agency to conduct another assessment. This has raised concerns among advocates, who argue that the changes will limit the rights of participants to appeal decisions about their funding. A spokesperson for the NDIA has argued that the changes will simplify the planning process and make it more efficient, but advocates are skeptical, arguing that the changes will lead to a lack of flexibility and responsiveness to the individual needs of NDIS participants.
Concerns about Automation
One of the main concerns about the changes is the increased use of automation in the NDIS. The new system will use a computer algorithm to generate funding and support plans, with limited ability for staff to amend them. This has raised concerns among advocates, who argue that the changes will lead to a lack of human involvement and oversight in the planning process. Dr. Stevie Lang Howson, from advocacy group Disabled People Against Cuts, has described the changes as a "nightmare scenario" for disabled people, arguing that the use of automation will result in a lack of flexibility and responsiveness to the individual needs of participants. Sian Thomas, legal director of Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion, has also expressed concerns about the changes, arguing that they will lead to a lack of transparency and accountability in the planning process.
Call to Rethink the Changes
Advocates are calling on the government to rethink the changes to the NDIS, citing concerns about the potential harm to NDIS participants. They argue that the changes will lead to a lack of flexibility and responsiveness to the individual needs of participants, and that the use of automation will result in a lack of human involvement and oversight in the planning process. The government has argued that the changes will simplify the planning process and make it more efficient, but advocates are skeptical, arguing that the changes will undermine the fairness and accountability of the NDIS. As the changes are set to be rolled out in 2026, advocates are urging the government to reconsider its approach and to prioritize the needs and rights of NDIS participants.