The latest NDIS Quarterly Report highlights the positive results of NDIS reform to better support all participants, as well as ensure the Scheme’s sustainability for generations to come.
The NDIS Quarterly Report (31 December 2024) shows the NDIS is supporting more participants than ever before.
More than 692,000 Australians are receiving disability-related supports from the NDIS, with more than 19,000 new participants joining the Scheme during this quarter.
The Report also shows reforms and legislative changes are making the NDIS stronger as well as a continued and encouraging trend of stabilisation for Scheme cost growth.
Total Scheme expenses for the 6 months to December 2024 of $22.9 billion, which is $390 million below expectations in the June 2024 projections.
These reforms are expected to reduce projected Scheme expenses by $19.3 billion over the four years to 30 June 2028.
The growth rate of the Scheme has also decreased to 11.9% year-on-year from 18.9% in 2023-24.
The Agency is confident that we will deliver the 8% growth target by 2026-27.
To date the stabilisation of cost growth has primarily been achieved through reducing plan inflation and reducing the risk of overspending of plan budgets.
NDIA CEO Rebecca Falkingham said the NDIS is a key part of the Australian community, reflecting our values of equity and a fair go for everyone.
“We are continuing our work with people with disability to ensure the NDIS is delivering the best outcomes possible for participants, while improving the sustainability of the world leading Scheme.
“We know there is more work to do to further strengthen the NDIS – we are absolutely committed to continuing to do this in partnership with the disability community.”
The transformational reforms the NDIS needs are being made by listening and responding to the voices of people with disability and the disability community - over 70 co-design sessions with 620+ participants and members of the disability community, and over 30 targeted consultations with 90+ external stakeholders are already helping to shape these improvements.
Highlights this quarter relating to improved participant outcomes include:
- 80% of participants aged 15 and over who have been in the NDIS for over 2 years report having greater choice and control in their lives, up from 67% at entry to the Scheme.
- 43% of participants who have been in the NDIS for at least 2 years reporting increased community and social participation since joining, compared to 35% at baseline.
- Participation in work has more than doubled, growing from 10% to 23% for participants aged 15 to 24 years
- Of the new participants: 9.7% identified as First Nations peoples; 7% identified as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse community; and 2% were living in remote and very remote areas.
The NDIA has also implemented several initiatives and process improvements to improve the participant experience, including:
- Adding more than 800 staff to the frontline service delivery team over the past two quarters, reducing waiting times and improving service access - particularly for participants seeking changes to their NDIS plan.
- More than 15,000 participants have been supported to transition to safer providers.
Key highlights this quarter also include:
- The co-developed inaugural NDIS First Nations Strategy, which was publicly released in mid-January 2025, to ensure First Nations people living with disability receive the culturally safe and accessible support they need through the Scheme.
- Additional Government funding of $280 million to develop a dedicated workforce for strengths-based assessments creating a fairer and more consistent approach to understanding participant’s needs for NDIS supports in developing their plans
- An additional $4.527 million over 2 years to create an early childhood pathway for children under 9, focusing on best practices and early intervention.
- Almost $40 million in grants over 2 years to 69 disability organisations to provide community-based self-advocacy and peer support programs.
- The Crack Down on Fraud program received an additional $110.4 million in November 2024 to enhance systems to prevent misuse of funds.
- The National Contact Centre (NCC) commenced a pilot program to improve identity verification.
View the Quarterly Reports here.