Children removed, supports cut, workforce hit

Apr 22

2 min read

The Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association (ANPA) warns the Federal Government is pushing children out of the NDIS, cutting essential supports, and exposing families to preventable harm.

“Children were part of the original purpose of the NDIS. They belong in it,” said Sarah Langston, President of ANPA.

https://youtube.com/shorts/k_5UObo6aVw

ANPA says Section 25 is clear: Early Intervention is a core, co-equal pathway in the law. The organisation argues that pushing eligible children out of the Scheme cuts across the intent of the Act.

“Foundational supports” are not a replacement

ANPA says children, including many Level 2 Autistic children who require substantial, ongoing support, are being diverted into “foundational supports”.

“These supports were never intended to replace the NDIS,” Langston said.

The Association says there has been no clear Parliamentary oversight of this shift, describing it as a fundamental change to how the Scheme operates.

Cuts to support workers and participation supports

ANPA is raising alarm about cuts to support workers and social and community participation supports, reporting reductions of up to 30% to participation supports.

“Support workers are not optional. They are the difference between a child being in school or out, between staying safely at home or entering crisis systems.”

ANPA notes that social and community participation is a core right under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Workforce and economic impacts

ANPA warns a 30% cut to a major support category will shrink the workforce at scale—reducing hours, collapsing small providers, and putting tens of thousands of care jobs at risk.

The organisation says this will hit a feminised workforce first and hardest, as most support workers are women.

Fraud narrative and mandatory registration

ANPA rejected the current fraud narrative being used to justify broad cuts, arguing the response should target wrongdoing rather than reduce support across the board.

ANPA also raised concerns about mandatory registration, opposing it unless it is free and small providers can compete on equal footing—otherwise it risks locking out small providers and reducing choice.

A false choice—and a shift into crisis systems

ANPA rejected attempts to frame the changes as a trade-off between groups, saying it is being framed as aged care versus children—a false choice.

“This does not remove need. It shifts it into schools, hospitals, and child protection.”

Questions for the Minister

ANPA asked why, if the Minister is serious about fixing the Scheme and cutting costs, the 27 recommendations from the 2023 Capability and Culture report are not being implemented.

And if Early Intervention is core to the law, ANPA asks why children are being pushed out of the NDIS—and who takes responsibility when the consequences hit.