_{If this email has been forwarded to you, sign up here}

Bottom line: The NDIS Technical Advisory Group is now no longer just a line in the reform timetable. It has co-convenors, co-chairs, members, terms of reference and a work program.

Its job is not to decide who gets into the NDIS, but to design the machinery that will shape those decisions: the assessment framework, the evidence requirements, the tools and the thresholds.

Why this matters: This is where reform becomes operational. It represents a major step towards using functional capacity as the measure for access. The TAG will advise on how substantially reduced functional capacity is assessed, how the process can be standardised and streamlined for those who clearly meet the access criteria.

This will affect children, adults, people with psychosocial disability, episodic or fluctuating conditions, and people with progressive or degenerative conditions.

Data Watch: The TAG will meet monthly. Its main work is expected by late 2026, with further technical advice due by March 2027. It reports to the Disability Reform Ministerial Council, is co-convened by Mark Butler and ACT disability minister Suzanne Orr, and is co-chaired by Professor Christine Imms and senior Health official Mary Wood. Source: Health ministers, Health news, terms of reference

You will have noticed we only produced one Big Story this week. That’s not because news has stopped happening, it’s because we’ve been busy working ‘under the bonnet’ to make abilityNEWS even better.

We’ll let you know as soon as our new projects come on line, but please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to help or have any ideas about how we can improve abilityNEWS!

Best, Nic Stuart (editor) [email protected] (04 10 278 827)

Technical Advisory Group begins work on NDIS functional-capacity access design

The federal government says a new Technical Advisory Group met for the first time on 9 July to advise on the framework, tools and thresholds for assessing substantially reduced functional capacity as part of NDIS access reform.
Source: Health, Disability and Ageing Ministers

Health publishes terms of reference for NDIS functional-capacity advisory group

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published the Technical Advisory Group terms of reference, setting out the advisory body’s role in supporting NDIS access and eligibility reform.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Health publishes reader-facing explainer on NDIS access advisory group

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published a separate news update explaining that the TAG will support implementation of the 2026–27 Budget measure to strengthen NDIS access pathways, including standardised evidence-based functional-capacity assessments.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

First Nations Connect phone service launches for culturally safer NDIS support

First Nations people seeking NDIS help can now call First Nations Connect on 1800 411 640, with the government saying the new NDIA phone service was shaped by engagement with more than 230 stakeholders and staffed by people who have completed specialised cultural training.
Source: Health, Disability and Ageing Ministers

Summer Foundation says support coordination reform is a chance to build a clearer navigation function

Summer Foundation says the government’s plan for a new support coordination and connections could improve navigation support. Key to this will be ensuring the new role has clear responsibilities, specialist knowledge and a strong competency framework.
Source: Summer Foundation

Autism Awareness Australia rebrands as Autism Association of Australia

Autism Awareness Australia has rebranded as Autism Association of Australia, saying the change reflects a shift from awareness to systemic advocacy at a time of major NDIS reform and continuing pressure on autistic people and families.
Source: Autism Association of Australia

Yooralla signs Fair Work undertaking after $2.05 million disability-sector underpayment

The Fair Work Ombudsman says disability services provider Yooralla has entered an Enforceable Undertaking after rectifying $2.05 million in underpayments to 1,389 current and former staff, with the regulator warning that compliance in disability support services is a priority.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman

Specialist-sector media: advocates question timing of NDIS access reform process

Health Services Daily reports that advocates are questioning the timing of the government’s decision to convene the first Technical Advisory Group meeting while passage of the NDIS Bill remains delayed. Summary based on visible public preview only.
Source: Health Services Daily

Continuing-context Brief: Inclusion Australia explains the latest NDIS Bill amendments

Published 8 July but still relevant to the debate, Inclusion Australia has released an Easy Read update explaining the Greens-Government amendments, welcoming some safeguards while warning this may leave some people worse off.
Source: Inclusion Australia

Reader-service Brief: Grattan sets out how foundational supports should look

Published outside the ordinary Daily window but directly relevant to the debate, Sam Bennett and Owain Emslie argue foundational supports will need to be scaled, evidence-based and targeted to children, psychosocial disability as well as general disability.
Source: InSight+ / MJA

Albury families concerned over axing of local NDIS-funded program

ABC Goulburn Murray reports Aspire Support Services will discontinue an NDIS-funded Lifestyle & Learning Service supporting about 110 people in Albury-Wodonga, with the provider citing significant losses and proposed NDIS funding changes from 1 October.
Source: ABC News | Paywall: No

More than 1,300 staff receive $2 million in back pay from disability support provider Yooralla

ABC News reports Yooralla has entered an enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman after more than 1,300 disability support workers were underpaid due to payroll and entitlement errors over several years.
Source: ABC News | Paywall: No

Queensland campaign to support renters with disability to request home modifications

ABC News reports QDN and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland have launched Small Changes, Big Difference, a campaign to help renters with disability request home modifications and help property owners understand accessible rental needs.
Source: ABC News | Paywall: No

‘They want it all’: Disability share house to be stripped of everything from couches to light globes by charity landlord

Nine’s A Current Affair reports on a disability share-house dispute involving a charity landlord and household items from couches to light globes. Summary based on visible public preview only.
Source: Nine — A Current Affair | Paywall: Unknown

Disability advocates to conduct review after ex-policy head allegedly collected child abuse material

Region Canberra reports Advocacy for Inclusion is conducting an internal review after former policy head Craig Wallace was accused of possessing child exploitation material; he has not entered a plea.
Source: Region Canberra | Paywall: No

Telstra glitch highlights gaps in emergency network

SBS News reports police are investigating the death of a South Australian woman after the Telstra outage, with the telco saying 639 welfare checks were made for people unable to reach triple zero and seven people reported needing assistance.
Source: SBS News — video | Paywall: No

A new Indigenous-only NDIS phone line is launching, in response to cultural safety 'gaps'

SBS/NITV reports advocates have cautiously welcomed First Nations Connect, while warning that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who need NDIS support are still not getting onto the scheme in the first place.
Source: SBS/NITV | Paywall: No