'They're making it impossible': NDIS cuts linked to emotional meltdowns

The Advertiser

5 days ago

Children as young as four in the Hunter Region are missing out on early intervention due to NDIS cuts, Newcastle psychologist Jacqui Smith says.
Ms Smith, director of Clarity Psychology at Charlestown, said NDIS cuts were "hurting people of all ages".
"I'm feeling incredibly disheartened," Ms Smith said.
"We just want to help people. They are making it impossible."
The Treasury has estimated that the NDIS will rise from $51 billion this financial year to $63 billion by 2028-29.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) disputes the word "cuts" being used to describe NDIS changes.
"Reforms are moderating cost growth, and the scheme is on track to meet the national cabinet's annual growth target of 8 per cent by July 2026," a spokesperson said.
While reducing NDIS costs, the Albanese government aims to introduce "foundational supports" for children with autism and developmental difficulties in schools and childcare centres.
These supports were planned to begin on Tuesday under a deadline set by former NDIS minister Bill Shorten.
NDIS Minister Mark Butler said "negotiations on foundational supports with the states are ongoing and we are working to finalise them as soon as possible".
"The first work on foundational supports is children under nine with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism," Mr Butler said.
The second group involved people with "ongoing, usually quite severe, psychosocial disability who are not getting any support right now".
Ms Smith said her clinic had "written comprehensive reports for children detailing behaviours of concern and strategies to support them".
"We've had NDIS planners say they don't really have behaviours of concern. So they've taken away behaviour support funding," she said.
"We might have a child or somebody who needs emotional regulation skills training, for example.
"The comment from the NDIS will be that the client's occupational therapist can do that. We've had occupational therapists contacting us for guidance."
Ms Smith, a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists, said this amounted to "early intervention" services being cut.
"A child who's eight, for example, might be emotionally distressed and having trouble managing their impulses.
"You then see children acting out in class and having meltdowns and not forming healthy relationships."
Ms Smith said she had "for many years now diagnosed adults [with autism and/or ADHD] because it wasn't picked up when they were young".
The latest figures show 12,468 people on the NDIS for autism in Hunter New England in the third quarter of 2024-25.
This rose from 10,991 in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The average six-monthly NDIS payments in the district include: $18,106 (autism), $55,339 (intellectual disability) and $47,625 (psychosocial disability).
Ms Smith said NDIS restrictions were also affecting people with a psychosocial disability.
"They might have a severe and chronic mental illness that impacts their function," she said.
"Where there's anything to do with mental health, the NDIS will say they can go and get a mental health care plan from their doctor," she said.
"Those plans provide rebates for 10 sessions. The rebates are too low for us to afford to bulk-bill."
People with physical and intellectual disability, such as cerebral palsy, were also affected by NDIS delays.
"It's taken three years of reporting and reviews to get a client fully funded for supported living," Ms Smith said.
"This is somebody with quite a severe level of disability. The person's ageing mum couldn't continue to care for them."
She added that some NDIS planners who made the funding decisions "don't appear to have any clinical training or disability background".
The NDIA spokesperson said "the agency has significantly reduced wait times for participants over the past year".
"All staff receive intensive and ongoing training in disability and decision-making under the NDIS Act.
"The NDIA has a highly dedicated workforce, with 22 per cent of staff identifying as having a disability.
"The agency has invested in the recruitment of an additional 1300 frontline staff in the last financial year."
Children as young as four in the Hunter Region are missing out on early intervention due to NDIS cuts, Newcastle psychologist Jacqui Smith says.
Ms Smith, director of Clarity Psychology at Charlestown, said NDIS cuts were "hurting people of all ages".
"I'm feeling incredibly disheartened," Ms Smith said.
"We just want to help people. They are making it impossible."
The Treasury has estimated that the NDIS will rise from $51 billion this financial year to $63 billion by 2028-29.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) disputes the word "cuts" being used to describe NDIS changes.
"Reforms are moderating cost growth, and the scheme is on track to meet the national cabinet's annual growth target of 8 per cent by July 2026," a spokesperson said.
While reducing NDIS costs, the Albanese government aims to introduce "foundational supports" for children with autism and developmental difficulties in schools and childcare centres.
These supports were planned to begin on Tuesday under a deadline set by former NDIS minister Bill Shorten.
NDIS Minister Mark Butler said "negotiations on foundational supports with the states are ongoing and we are working to finalise them as soon as possible".
"The first work on foundational supports is children under nine with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism," Mr Butler said.
The second group involved people with "ongoing, usually quite severe, psychosocial disability who are not getting any support right now".
Ms Smith said her clinic had "written comprehensive reports for children detailing behaviours of concern and strategies to support them".
"We've had NDIS planners say they don't really have behaviours of concern. So they've taken away behaviour support funding," she said.
"We might have a child or somebody who needs emotional regulation skills training, for example.
"The comment from the NDIS will be that the client's occupational therapist can do that. We've had occupational therapists contacting us for guidance."
Ms Smith, a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists, said this amounted to "early intervention" services being cut.
"A child who's eight, for example, might be emotionally distressed and having trouble managing their impulses.
"You then see children acting out in class and having meltdowns and not forming healthy relationships."
Ms Smith said she had "for many years now diagnosed adults [with autism and/or ADHD] because it wasn't picked up when they were young".
The latest figures show 12,468 people on the NDIS for autism in Hunter New England in the third quarter of 2024-25.
This rose from 10,991 in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The average six-monthly NDIS payments in the district include: $18,106 (autism), $55,339 (intellectual disability) and $47,625 (psychosocial disability).
Ms Smith said NDIS restrictions were also affecting people with a psychosocial disability.
"They might have a severe and chronic mental illness that impacts their function," she said.
"Where there's anything to do with mental health, the NDIS will say they can go and get a mental health care plan from their doctor," she said.
"Those plans provide rebates for 10 sessions. The rebates are too low for us to afford to bulk-bill."
People with physical and intellectual disability, such as cerebral palsy, were also affected by NDIS delays.
"It's taken three years of reporting and reviews to get a client fully funded for supported living," Ms Smith said.
"This is somebody with quite a severe level of disability. The person's ageing mum couldn't continue to care for them."
She added that some NDIS planners who made the funding decisions "don't appear to have any clinical training or disability background".
The NDIA spokesperson said "the agency has significantly reduced wait times for participants over the past year".
"All staff receive intensive and ongoing training in disability and decision-making under the NDIS Act.
"The NDIA has a highly dedicated workforce, with 22 per cent of staff identifying as having a disability.
"The agency has invested in the recruitment of an additional 1300 frontline staff in the last financial year."
Children as young as four in the Hunter Region are missing out on early intervention due to NDIS cuts, Newcastle psychologist Jacqui Smith says.
Ms Smith, director of Clarity Psychology at Charlestown, said NDIS cuts were "hurting people of all ages".
"I'm feeling incredibly disheartened," Ms Smith said.
"We just want to help people. They are making it impossible."
The Treasury has estimated that the NDIS will rise from $51 billion this financial year to $63 billion by 2028-29.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) disputes the word "cuts" being used to describe NDIS changes.
"Reforms are moderating cost growth, and the scheme is on track to meet the national cabinet's annual growth target of 8 per cent by July 2026," a spokesperson said.
While reducing NDIS costs, the Albanese government aims to introduce "foundational supports" for children with autism and developmental difficulties in schools and childcare centres.
These supports were planned to begin on Tuesday under a deadline set by former NDIS minister Bill Shorten.
NDIS Minister Mark Butler said "negotiations on foundational supports with the states are ongoing and we are working to finalise them as soon as possible".
"The first work on foundational supports is children under nine with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism," Mr Butler said.
The second group involved people with "ongoing, usually quite severe, psychosocial disability who are not getting any support right now".
Ms Smith said her clinic had "written comprehensive reports for children detailing behaviours of concern and strategies to support them".
"We've had NDIS planners say they don't really have behaviours of concern. So they've taken away behaviour support funding," she said.
"We might have a child or somebody who needs emotional regulation skills training, for example.
"The comment from the NDIS will be that the client's occupational therapist can do that. We've had occupational therapists contacting us for guidance."
Ms Smith, a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists, said this amounted to "early intervention" services being cut.
"A child who's eight, for example, might be emotionally distressed and having trouble managing their impulses.
"You then see children acting out in class and having meltdowns and not forming healthy relationships."
Ms Smith said she had "for many years now diagnosed adults [with autism and/or ADHD] because it wasn't picked up when they were young".
The latest figures show 12,468 people on the NDIS for autism in Hunter New England in the third quarter of 2024-25.
This rose from 10,991 in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The average six-monthly NDIS payments in the district include: $18,106 (autism), $55,339 (intellectual disability) and $47,625 (psychosocial disability).
Ms Smith said NDIS restrictions were also affecting people with a psychosocial disability.
"They might have a severe and chronic mental illness that impacts their function," she said.
"Where there's anything to do with mental health, the NDIS will say they can go and get a mental health care plan from their doctor," she said.
"Those plans provide rebates for 10 sessions. The rebates are too low for us to afford to bulk-bill."
People with physical and intellectual disability, such as cerebral palsy, were also affected by NDIS delays.
"It's taken three years of reporting and reviews to get a client fully funded for supported living," Ms Smith said.
"This is somebody with quite a severe level of disability. The person's ageing mum couldn't continue to care for them."
She added that some NDIS planners who made the funding decisions "don't appear to have any clinical training or disability background".
The NDIA spokesperson said "the agency has significantly reduced wait times for participants over the past year".
"All staff receive intensive and ongoing training in disability and decision-making under the NDIS Act.
"The NDIA has a highly dedicated workforce, with 22 per cent of staff identifying as having a disability.
"The agency has invested in the recruitment of an additional 1300 frontline staff in the last financial year."
Children as young as four in the Hunter Region are missing out on early intervention due to NDIS cuts, Newcastle psychologist Jacqui Smith says.
Ms Smith, director of Clarity Psychology at Charlestown, said NDIS cuts were "hurting people of all ages".
"I'm feeling incredibly disheartened," Ms Smith said.
"We just want to help people. They are making it impossible."
The Treasury has estimated that the NDIS will rise from $51 billion this financial year to $63 billion by 2028-29.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) disputes the word "cuts" being used to describe NDIS changes.
"Reforms are moderating cost growth, and the scheme is on track to meet the national cabinet's annual growth target of 8 per cent by July 2026," a spokesperson said.
While reducing NDIS costs, the Albanese government aims to introduce "foundational supports" for children with autism and developmental difficulties in schools and childcare centres.
These supports were planned to begin on Tuesday under a deadline set by former NDIS minister Bill Shorten.
NDIS Minister Mark Butler said "negotiations on foundational supports with the states are ongoing and we are working to finalise them as soon as possible".
"The first work on foundational supports is children under nine with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism," Mr Butler said.
The second group involved people with "ongoing, usually quite severe, psychosocial disability who are not getting any support right now".
Ms Smith said her clinic had "written comprehensive reports for children detailing behaviours of concern and strategies to support them".
"We've had NDIS planners say they don't really have behaviours of concern. So they've taken away behaviour support funding," she said.
"We might have a child or somebody who needs emotional regulation skills training, for example.
"The comment from the NDIS will be that the client's occupational therapist can do that. We've had occupational therapists contacting us for guidance."
Ms Smith, a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists, said this amounted to "early intervention" services being cut.
"A child who's eight, for example, might be emotionally distressed and having trouble managing their impulses.
"You then see children acting out in class and having meltdowns and not forming healthy relationships."
Ms Smith said she had "for many years now diagnosed adults [with autism and/or ADHD] because it wasn't picked up when they were young".
The latest figures show 12,468 people on the NDIS for autism in Hunter New England in the third quarter of 2024-25.
This rose from 10,991 in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The average six-monthly NDIS payments in the district include: $18,106 (autism), $55,339 (intellectual disability) and $47,625 (psychosocial disability).
Ms Smith said NDIS restrictions were also affecting people with a psychosocial disability.
"They might have a severe and chronic mental illness that impacts their function," she said.
"Where there's anything to do with mental health, the NDIS will say they can go and get a mental health care plan from their doctor," she said.
"Those plans provide rebates for 10 sessions. The rebates are too low for us to afford to bulk-bill."
People with physical and intellectual disability, such as cerebral palsy, were also affected by NDIS delays.
"It's taken three years of reporting and reviews to get a client fully funded for supported living," Ms Smith said.
"This is somebody with quite a severe level of disability. The person's ageing mum couldn't continue to care for them."
She added that some NDIS planners who made the funding decisions "don't appear to have any clinical training or disability background".
The NDIA spokesperson said "the agency has significantly reduced wait times for participants over the past year".
"All staff receive intensive and ongoing training in disability and decision-making under the NDIS Act.
"The NDIA has a highly dedicated workforce, with 22 per cent of staff identifying as having a disability.
"The agency has invested in the recruitment of an additional 1300 frontline staff in the last financial year."