Yesterday’s federal budget gave us a lot to think about. Among the announcements, one stood out for our community: the government’s plan to reduce NDIS participant numbers by around 160,000 people by 2030.
We’d like to share a few gentle thoughts — not as a protest, but as an invitation to think about this together.
The Headline That Started a Conversation
Last month, the Australian Financial Review had a story titled “NDIS spends $12b on support for walks, movies, haircuts.” The article reported that social and community support cost around $11.6 billion in 2025 — about 23.6% of total NDIS payments — and that the NDIS’s first chief economist described it as “the obvious place” for the government to start trimming costs.
It’s a striking headline, and we understand why it makes people pause. When you read “walks, movies, haircuts” next to a $12 billion figure, it’s natural to wonder whether the scheme has lost its way.
We’d like to gently offer another way of reading those same numbers.
What the Headline Doesn’t Show
For many people with disability, “just going for a walk” isn’t simple. There can be a long list of things to plan for before stepping out the front door:
- Is the path accessible the whole way?
- Is there someone to help with transport, mobility, or communication?
- Is the environment safe and calm enough to feel comfortable?
- Is there any energy left after the rest of the day’s tasks?
A haircut isn’t always a quick stop on the way home. A trip to the movies might be the only time in a week a person connects with the community.
When something feels effortless to us, it’s easy to assume it’s effortless for everyone. But ordinary moments often require real support to make possible — and that support isn’t a luxury. It’s the bridge between sitting at home and being part of life.
A Few Gentle Questions Back
The $12 billion figure is real, and conversations about spending are worth having. But we’d respectfully ask:
- What does “social and community participation” actually mean? It’s a broad category that includes building independence, reducing isolation, and accessing work and education — not just outings.
- Who sets the hourly rates? Participants don’t. The NDIS price guide does. A participant doesn’t choose to pay more on a Sunday; they simply pay what the system charges.
- What’s the alternative? Without these supports, many people would stay home. Isolation has its own costs — to mental health, physical health, and eventually to the hospital and aged care systems.
Our Hope
The NDIS was built on a beautiful idea: that people with disability deserve choice, control, and the chance to live a full life. When 160,000 people are moved out of the scheme, those aren’t just numbers — they’re children, parents, neighbours, and friends.
Australia is at its best when we lower barriers rather than raise them. When we ask, How do we make this possible? instead of, Is this necessary?
Walking in the park shouldn’t be a privilege. It’s one of the most ordinary, human things a person can do.
What You Can Do Next
- Listen to people with lived experience through disability-led advocacy groups.
- Share thoughtful conversations with friends and family.
- Reach out to your local MP — a short, kind message can go a long way.
To our community: we’re here, we’re listening, and we’ll keep walking alongside you. Sometimes literally. Often in the park.
PS: Check our Social & Community Participation for more details.
Feng is the founder of Journey In Action Support, an NDIS provider based in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. With a Certificate III in Individual Support, Feng supports participants across household tasks, personal care, transport, and community access — with a bilingual Mandarin and English service that reflects the needs of the local Chinese-Australian community.
