The abilityNEWS Daily
The Big Story
signing up . . . at last
WA finally joins the NDIS – just a decade after the rest of Australia
Western Australia has finally signed off on a full bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), securing long-term funding and governance arrangements for the state’s more than 62,000 participants.
Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler and WA Disability Services Minister Hannah Beazley jointly announced the deal, which is to officially commence on 1 July, yesterday. Under the agreement, WA will now make fixed annual contributions to the scheme, with the Commonwealth funding the balance.
Both Ministers described the deal as a "significant milestone," that provides long-overdue funding certainty and promises better service delivery in regional and remote areas. The establishment of a WA NDIS Community Advisory Council was also flagged to give participants a voice in ongoing governance.
But there’s more to this story than the ministers say. WA resisted joining the national NDIS for years, running its own “WA NDIS” system in parallel while raising concerns about national control, funding equity, and service consistency. The final integration wasn’t completed until 2020 - years after the other states.
So despite the fanfare, yesterday’s announcement merely formalises what was already in place. The real questions are: why did it take until 2025 to finalise this agreement, and what difference will it make?
The answer? Money, control, paocialism, and politics.
What took WA so long – and will this really fix the service gaps?
The Briefing
The NSW Budget. Is everybody really happy?
Less bang for your buck – NSW Budget missing key opportunities
by People with Disability Australia
People with Disability Australia says the NSW Budget fails to invest in vital supports that benefit both disabled people and the wider community. Omitting targeted funding and housing commitments risks deeper exclusion and long-term social and economic costs.
Regional Anglicare Leadership Forums
by Anglicare
Anglicare regional leaders gathered at recent forums to reflect on past achievements and discuss future directions. The events fostered collaboration, strategic planning and shared learning across the organisation’s diverse community services footprint.
New report reveals what’s not working
by Disability Advocacy Network Australia
A new report by the National Centre for Disability Advocacy exposes deep-rooted issues in housing, transport and guardianship services nationwide. It outlines urgent areas for reform to better support Australians with disability navigating vital public systems.
CPA Research Institute Newsletter
by Cerebral Palsy Alliance
The CPA Research Institute’s May 2025 newsletter outlines recent developments in accounting standards and professional education updates. It also highlights upcoming research projects and survey findings relevant to the accounting profession.
Lancet article highlights CP research with helpful summary
by Cerebral Palsy Alliance
CPA researchers co-authored a landmark Lancet paper reviewing global advances in cerebral palsy research and clinical practice. A companion summary helps families understand the findings and what they may mean for care and treatment.
Improving Brain Injury Outcomes
by Brain Trauma Foundation
The International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery has endorsed a traumatic brain injury course developed by the Brain Trauma Foundation. Designed for clinicians worldwide, the online course promotes evidence-based care for both adult and paediatric severe brain injuries.
Studying Traumatic Brain Imjury
The Wrap
Allied health providers say NDIS price, travel review will hurt vulnerable in Kimberley, Pilbara
by ABC
Allied health providers across Western Australia's remote north say residents will be disproportionately hit by a recent review of NDIS services and allowances. The review, announced earlier this month, flagged cuts to some allied health services, as well as a reduction of claimable travel time by 50 per cent.
NDIS Heatbreak - physios fear practice closures over snap pay cuts
by A Current Affair
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) gave physiotherapists and other allied health professionals 20 days notice before the cuts come into effect on July 1. Emotional physiotherapists have told A Current Affair they'll be forced to close or transform their business models to stay financially afloat – but can't do so in just 20 days.
TPB bans NDIS fraudster for 5 years
by Accountants Daily
Kahtan AI Hassan, a tax agent based in Bankstown, has been deregistered and banned from reapplying for the maximum five-year period for fraudulent conduct across the tax system and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) system. The Tax Practitioners Board revealed that the deregistration and banning of AI Hassan were part of its involvement in the Fraud Fusion Taskforce (FFT) and its intensified efforts to remove tax practitioners engaged in misconduct.
The Diary
