18 August 2026
Paediatricians and rehabilitation medicine specialists from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) say that upcoming changes to the NDIS must involve close monitoring to ensure that people with disabilities can continue to access appropriate care and services.
Dr Niroshini Kennedy, Paediatrician and President of the RACP Paediatrics and Child Health Division, says “For children with developmental disability, autism, cerebral palsy and many other conditions, early intervention makes an incredible difference in lifelong health and wellbeing outcomes.
“As these reforms proceed, we need strong safeguards to ensure children do not fall through the gaps between the health, education and disability systems.
“We already know these systems can feel fragmented and difficult to navigate at the best of times. Children should not lose access to NDIS support before effective alternative foundational supports are fully operational and accessible.
“Families need confidence that their children will continue to receive the support necessary for their health, development and participation in everyday life.”
Dr Caitlin Anderson, President-elect of the RACP Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, says disability support and healthcare are complementary systems and must not be treated as substitutes for one another.
“Rehabilitation medicine is fundamentally about helping people maximise their function, independence and participation. Disability supports are often just as important as medical care in helping people with disabilities live well in the community.
“Good community support helps people remain well and independent and can prevent avoidable health complications, emergency presentations and hospital admissions. Cutting or delaying those supports may simply shift costs from the NDIS onto families and an already stretched healthcare system.
“Functional assessments must be capable of recognising the complexity of disability, including rare, episodic, fluctuating, progressive and developmental conditions. Standardised assessment tools must not be allowed to override clinical context or individual circumstances.
“We also need to ensure people with progressive neurological conditions can receive support before they experience significant deterioration. Early, community-based assistance can help people maintain their independence, participation and quality of life for longer.
“One of the key risks we will be watching is whether reduced disability support creates additional pressure on people with disabilities and their families, hospitals and rehabilitation services.
“The RACP is calling for the implementation of the reforms to be closely monitored for their impact on access to support, health outcomes, family wellbeing and demand on healthcare services.
“People with disability must be listened to and remain at the centre of these reforms.
“Sustainability cannot come at the expense of people’s independence, health or ability to participate in their community,” Dr Anderson says.