In December 2023, the independent review panel co-chaired by Professor Bruce Bonyhady AM and Lisa Paul AO PSM released its final report: Working Together to Deliver the NDIS. After consulting more than 10,000 Australians and receiving nearly 4,000 submissions, the panel produced 26 recommendations and 139 supporting actions.
Information current as of March 2024. NDIS rules are subject to change. This article is for general information only — not NDIS, legal, or financial advice.
What prompted the review?
The NDIS had grown significantly since launching in 2013, with costs exceeding original projections and many participants reporting confusion, inconsistency, and difficulty accessing the right supports. The review was established to assess whether the scheme was delivering on its original promise.
The key recommendations
Foundational Supports: The panel recommended a new layer of disability-specific supports available to all Australians with disability — not just NDIS participants. These would cover peer support, information services, and early intervention, reducing the pressure on the NDIS itself.
Early Childhood: Children with developmental delay or disability should be identified earlier and given support in everyday settings — childcare, schools, and community — rather than funnelled straight into the NDIS.
Clearer Eligibility: The review recommended clearer, more consistent access criteria so participants better understand whether they qualify and why.
Better Planning: Participants should be more involved in their own planning process. The review recommended a new “participant pathway” with better pre-planning support and a more collaborative approach.
Psychosocial Disability: A dedicated, recovery-focused approach for people with mental health conditions, recognising the episodic nature of psychosocial disability.
What it means for participants now
The report’s recommendations don’t take effect immediately — they need to be legislated and implemented by government. However, National Cabinet agreed to implement key reforms, which led directly to the NDIS Amendment Act that passed in August 2024.
For existing participants: your current plan and supports remain in place. For families with children: watch for changes to early childhood intervention pathways over the coming year.
What to do
- Read the official summary designed for people with disability
- Speak with your Support Coordinator about how any upcoming changes might affect your plan
- Contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 with any concerns about your current plan
Source: NDIS Review Final Report — December 2023
General information only
This article is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute NDIS, legal, or financial advice. NDIS rules and supports vary by individual plan. For advice specific to your situation, speak with your Support Coordinator or contact the NDIA directly at ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110.