The abilityNEWS Daily
The Big Story

Advocates Warn New Payment System Erodes Choice and Control
The NDIA has changed the way funding is delivered, sometimes paying for services up to three months after they’re delivered. Support providers say they need the money upfront.
The statement made it seem like a minor matter, just a simple rearrangement to the payment system. The effect’s been dramatic. Under the new system, instead of getting the full budget upfront, money is paid out in installments called 'funding periods'.
Although home and living supports are typically released monthly, most supports now only have funding released every three months in arrears - a massive shift. Service providers now have to find money to provide the services from somewhere else. Even if they do get the money eventually, they will face extra funding costs.
The government has effectively bought itself three-months interest free, by shoving the costs over to service providers.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) states that these changes aim to help participants manage their budgets more effectively and ensure consistent use of funding over the plan's duration.
That’s cold comfort for participants, providers, and advocacy groups, who are angry over the lack of communication, although they’re saying they’re worried about the potential impacts on participants' autonomy and well-being. They were against the new policy from the start, and ask why the NDIA is now implementing measures that appear almost deliberately designed to force them to scale back services.
In response the NDIA has indicated that funding periods are not new and are being introduced gradually, supposedly simply “to support participants in managing their budgets more easily”. The Authority emphasises that funding periods do not change the total amount of funding in a participant's plan, only when the funding becomes available.
Of course, that’s cold comfort while you’re waiting for it to appear in your bank account.
The Briefing

Joint Statement on New NDIS Funding Periods – Every Australian Counts and Disability Rights Organisations
by NDIA
From May 2025, the NDIS will stagger funding into short-term periods. Instead of receiving their full budget upfront, participants’ funding will now be released in installments called ‘funding periods’. Disability groups warn the change limits flexibility, undermines autonomy, and was introduced with minimal communication or consultation.
Podcast: working in higher education
by Disability Innovation Institute UNSW
Emily Gaspar shares her research which aims to explore the employment experiences of disability services practitioners, who identify as disabled, and work at institutions of higher education in Australia. The comparative research looks to build knowledge around how to enable greater inclusive and accessible campuses.
Podcast: Two expert lawyers unpack NDIS funding changes and legal rights.
by Summer Foundation
Two prominent disability rights lawyers break down recent changes to NDIS funding rules affecting plan length and support lists. The episode highlights examples and options for participants to challenge decisions that restrict personalised disability support.
Life-saving services such as mammograms should be for everywoman
by Physical Disability Australia
Carol Taylor was initially refused a mammogram due to mobility issues, despite the procedure being possible from a wheelchair. Her experience highlights inconsistent policies and ableist assumptions across the country's breast screening services.
The Top 4 Dating Apps for People Living with Disability
by NDSP Plan Managers
People living with disability often face additional barriers to dating, including stereotypes, safety concerns and limited inclusive platforms. Purpose-built dating apps offer safer, community-focused environments designed to foster friendship, connection and love. But they're not just for dating - they're about building friendships as well.

The Wrap
Aged care, disability and veterans care provider Annecto in voluntary administration
by ABC
Aged care, disability and veterans care service provider Annecto Incorporated has entered voluntary administration, putting entitlement payouts for hundreds of staff in doubt. On Monday, the Annecto board put the organisation into voluntary administration, saying the organisation was either insolvent, or was likely to become insolvent in future, according to administrators McGrathNicol.
Haines meets with local NDIS providers over controversial pricing changes
by Benalla Ensign
On Monday, June 30, Federal Member for Indi Dr Haines met with NDIS providers – including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, speech pathologists and support coordinators – who expressed serious concerns about controversial changes to NDIS pricing, which came into effect on July 1.
Haines meets with local NDIS providers over controversial pricing changes
by Mansfield Courier
Independent Federal Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines is calling on the Federal Government to pause NDIS pricing changes and undertake regional consultation, following a meeting with allied health providers this week.
The Diary
