National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3354
Appetite for Nutrition
ABN: 33 744 397 355
NDIS Organisation ID: 4050032697 www.appetitefornutrition.com.au
3 July 2026
Committee Secretary
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Re: Submission – National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
(Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Dear Committee Members,
My name is Carly Hughes, and I am an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Director of Appetite for Nutrition, an NDIS dietetics practice providing services to participants across Victoria and Queensland.
I support the long-term sustainability of the NDIS. However, I am concerned that recent pricing decisions are reducing participant access to specialist dietetic services.
My concerns are outlined below.
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Dietitian rates have reduced from $193.99/hour to $188.99/hour in July 2025, and again to $178.99/hour from July 2026.
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I employ dietitians whose wages increase each year in line with Fair Work decisions, while the amount paid for NDIS dietetic services continues to decrease.
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Business costs continue to rise, including superannuation, insurance, fuel, software, compliance and professional registration.
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Dietitians are highly qualified allied health professionals, many holding Master’s degrees, yet are funded below Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists despite providing specialised disability services.
Dietitians provide essential services including:
- Enteral (tube) feeding assessment and management.
- Tube feed prescriptions and formula calculations.
- Prevention and treatment of malnutrition.
- Nutrition support for participants with cerebral palsy, neurological conditions, dysphagia and other complex disabilities.
The impact on participants is already being seen:
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The 50% reduction in travel reimbursement means we are increasingly unable to accept referrals requiring more than 60 minutes of travel each way. This reduces access for participants living in outer metropolitan, regional and rural areas.
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Some participants are not suitable for telehealth, particularly those requiring enteral feeding reviews, physical assessment, mealtime observation or carer training.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3354
Appetite for Nutrition
ABN: 33 744 397 355
NDIS Organisation ID: 4050032697 www.appetitefornutrition.com.au
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Families and support coordinators are finding it increasingly difficult to source dietitians experienced in disability nutrition and enteral feeding.
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Early dietetic intervention can prevent avoidable hospital admissions. Reducing access to specialist dietitians is a false economy that risks increasing costs elsewhere in the health system while leading to poorer outcomes for participants.
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Medicare is not a substitute for NDIS dietetic care. It does not fund travel and does not adequately cover the complex assessment, report writing and multidisciplinary coordination required for many NDIS participants.
I respectfully ask the Committee to consider the following recommendations:
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Restore dietitian pricing to at least parity with other allied health professions delivering NDIS supports.
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Review the reduction in travel reimbursement to ensure participants in regional, rural and outer metropolitan areas can continue accessing essential services.
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Ensure future pricing decisions reflect the complexity of disability nutrition care and the increasing costs of delivering NDIS services.
A sustainable NDIS requires sustainable providers. Continued reductions in dietetic funding will reduce participant choice, limit access to experienced clinicians and ultimately impact the health and wellbeing of participants with complex nutrition needs.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission and for considering my views.
Yours sincerely,
Carly Hughes
Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)
Director | Appetite for Nutrition