The abilityNEWS Daily
The Big Story
Physiotherapists working with NDIS participants (photo courtesy MS Australia)
MS Australia says ‘the Price Isn’t Right’
MS Australia isn’t happy. It says the new pricing structure for the NDIS will hurt providers but be catastrophic for people with disability.
It’s not the therapists who’ll suffer, says MS Australia. Nor the administrators, nor the consultants. It’s the person with multiple sclerosis, sitting in a suburban lounge in Townsville, needing a podiatrist to stop a worsening foot drop. The problem? Her provider has shut down.
MS Australia’s furious response to last week’s NDIS pricing review isn’t just another sectoral whinge. It’s a warning flare. The organisation says the decision to cut price limits for essential therapy services — physiotherapy, dietetics, and podiatry — and freeze rates for more complex support coordination risks destabilising an already strained system.
Member organisations of MS Australia are already propping up the system by subsidising unfunded supports. But this latest move, they say, may well tip others over the edge. As pricing tightens, smaller, disease-specific providers — the ones who understand the complexity of neurological conditions — will fold. And with them goes the nuanced care clients rely on.
MS Australia has tried to alert government to this issue. Over the past decade it’s written more than 30 policy submissions. Their campaign for “A Better NDIS” did secure a neurological advisory body. But this pricing decision — made without full transparency and before the government has even responded to last year’s major NDIS Review — undermines that progress.
This isn’t just a bureaucratic failure. It’s a moral one. When people living with MS can no longer access the therapy they need, says MS Australia, that’s not just an accounting issue. That’s abandonment.
The Briefing
(photo courtesy NDS)
NDIA releases price limits and pricing arrangements
by NDS
Following the announcement of the outcomes of the Annual Pricing Review last week, the NDIA has released the 2025–26 Price Limits and Pricing Arrangements (PAPL). This update (only available to members) provides an overview of some of the key changes. Disability support worker support has increased on average by 3.95 per cent. The price limit for an hour of standard weekday support is now $70.23 per hour.
Disability organisations call for rights-based approach to needs assessments
by Disability Advocacy Network Australia
The Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) is urging the NDIA to adopt a rights-based approach to assessing participant needs. They are concerned that rushed implementation of new assessment models, like Independent Assessments, are negatively impacting participants by reducing choice and control and potentially causing trauma They warn such methods risk undermining individual dignity, autonomy and equitable support.
W3C Releases Updated DPUB-ARIA and DPUB-AAM Standards for Digital Publishing.
by Centre For Accessibility Australia
The W3C has updated its digital publishing standards to enhance how assistive technologies interact with complex online documents. New roles and improved technical mappings will aid users in navigating and understanding structured digital content more clearly.
Paralympian's focus: “Be Brave. Be Strong. You’ve Got This.”
by NDSP Plan Managers
"I was almost at the point of quitting … it was just not my thing. Paralympian Maddie McTernan overcame early doubts and invisible challenges to become a world-record-holding, multi-medal-winning swimmer. Diagnosed with autism, ADHD and anxiety, she now champions inclusion while training for the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships.
Ways of achieving NDIS outcomes by tenpin bowling
by Tenpin Bowling Australia
Tenpin Bowling Australia has released detailed hints that may help participants who want to include bowling as an NDIS outcome. This includes accessing social and community activities, being active, improving confidence, resilience, and increasing their drive and motivation to do better.
Tenpin bowling - a valuable support? (photo courtesy TBA)
The Wrap
Mother calls for change after daughter with intellectual disability told to wait five months for CT scan
by ABC
Imogen, who lives with intellectual disability, is unable to have scans without sedation and was told to wait five months for a CT scan of a concerning growth in her ear. It took several weeks for her mother to secure an appointment for a scan under general anaesthetic, which uncovered serious and urgent risks to her wellbeing.
Help for disabled youths left at the mercy of carers
by Illawarra Mercury
The Youth Disability Advocacy Service has launched the 'Right to be Heard Hub', a digital platform co-designed by young disabled individuals to provide accessible information about rights and complaint processes within the NDIS system. This initiative aims to empower young people facing mistreatment or neglect by their carers, offering resources to navigate the often daunting complaint systems.
Greens Push Government to Rethink NDIS Pricing Changes
by Mirage News
The Australian Greens are calling on the Albanese Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to engage in urgent and meaningful consultation with health professionals and disability support providers following growing concerns over the changes in the NDIS Annual Pricing Review 2024-25.
Tip shop makes change after parents address sale of kids' disability equipment
by ABC
Parents of children with disabilities are calling for more awareness from second-hand stores selling disability equipment, saying they sometimes have little choice when it comes to obtaining "vital supports" for growing children in a timely manner.
‘Lies’: Pheobe Bishop family feud erupts over aunt’s claim about teen’s disability
by news.com.au
The mother of a Queensland teenager allegedly murdered by her two adult housemates has accused her own sister of creating a “circus” with comments about the girl’s disability and living arrangements. The shocking family feud erupted on social media this week after Pheobe Bishop’s aunt, Caz Johnson, publicly questioned claims that the 17-year-old had a disability and questioned how she came to be living in the squalid Gin Gin home with her alleged murderers.
Toowoomba residents living with disabilities take the stage
by Courier Mail
Residents with disabilities in Toowoomba showcased their talents at the inaugural Blue Tongue Jamboree, an event celebrating creativity, courage, and inclusion. The performance featured music, dance, and theatre, providing a platform for participants to express themselves and engage with the community.
The Diary
