politics
Government Proposes 50% Cut to NDIS Social Participation Budgets
The federal government introduced a plan last month to halve social and community participation funding for NDIS participants, aiming to save $13.2 billion by June 2030. The changes would affect programs used by people with Down’s syndrome and other disabilities.
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The federal government introduced a proposal last month under which NDIS minister Mark Butler would slash all social and community participation budgets by 50% for participants. 2bn from July to June 2030. Mark Butler stated the decision to reduce community participation funding was made to protect core daily supports such as showering, meal preparation, hygiene and continence.
A government spokesperson stated not everyone will be subject to a 50% budget cut because some participants were already not using 100% of their funding allocation. The NDIS cost increased from around $20bn a year at full implementation in 2020 to $50bn this financial year. The government has estimated the NDIS will cost $117bn by 2036-37 if no changes are made.
Social and community participation budgets have accounted for around a quarter of the annual NDIS budget since 2021, according to government data. Nearly a third of individual NDIS budgets for people with Down’s syndrome go towards social and community participation.
On average, about $28,900 a year goes to each of the 9,000 or so participants with Down’s syndrome for social and community participation programs.
Joe Barham is 22 years old and has Down’s syndrome. He has participated in an NDIS program to learn barista skills and spend time in the community for more than four years. Joe Barham’s favourite drink to make for customers is an iced chocolate.
When he is not learning to be a barista, he works in the community garden or collects cans to recycle for extra change. ” Kerry Barham further stated: “We’re trying to teach him money skills, communication skills, independence ...
