To whom this may concern,
This submission addresses the following Terms of Reference:
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The impact of NDIS reforms on children and early intervention services.
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Access to allied health supports, including speech pathology.
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The long-term social and economic impacts of disability support funding.
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NDIS sustainability and the effectiveness of measures to address fraud and misuse of funds.
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The impact of NDIS reforms on broader health, education, and justice systems. I am writing to express serious concern regarding proposed funding reductions and changes affecting access to early intervention supports for children under the NDIS, including access to speech pathology and other allied health services.
These changes risk undermining decades of evidence demonstrating that early intervention is one of the most effective, economically responsible, and socially beneficial investments governments can make. While there is broad agreement that the NDIS must address fraud, misuse of funds, and long-term sustainability, the burden of these failures must not be transferred onto children with disability and developmental delays, their families, or the health professionals supporting them. People with disability should not be expected to pay the price for criminal behaviour within the system.
The evidence supporting early intervention is overwhelming. The NDIA’s own evidence reviews have identified positive outcomes from early intervention approaches across communication, social participation, learning readiness, family wellbeing, and developmental outcomes. Research commissioned by the NDIA highlights that early interventions delivered by qualified allied health professionals, including speech pathologists, can improve both child and family outcomes and reduce long-term support needs.
Speech pathology is not an optional service. Communication is a fundamental human right and underpins nearly every aspect of life, including education, social participation, emotional regulation, employment, healthcare access, and independent living. When communication difficulties are not addressed early, children face increased risks of academic failure, social isolation, behavioural challenges, mental health difficulties, unemployment, and lifelong disadvantage.
Australia’s education system is already under immense pressure. Schools are increasingly managing children with complex communication, developmental, behavioural, and mental health needs while facing workforce shortages and limited resources. Teachers cannot be expected to absorb the responsibilities of specialist
allied health services. Reducing access to early intervention will not eliminate children’s needs; it will simply shift those needs into classrooms that are already struggling to meet demand.
Likewise, Australia’s mental health system is already experiencing significant workforce shortages, long waitlists, and growing demand. Children who are unable to communicate effectively are at substantially greater risk of developing anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, social withdrawal, and behavioural concerns. Communication difficulties often coexist with or contribute to mental health challenges. Restricting access to speech pathology and early intervention services will increase pressure on an already overwhelmed mental health sector, creating higher downstream costs for governments and poorer outcomes for children and families.
The economic implications are equally concerning. Allied health services such as speech pathology contribute directly to workforce participation, educational achievement, and long-term economic productivity. Early intervention helps children develop the communication, literacy, social, and functional skills required to engage successfully in education and, ultimately, employment. Funding cuts that reduce access to these services are likely to increase future reliance on welfare systems, reduce workforce participation, and diminish economic productivity over time.
These changes may also have significant implications for the justice system. Research consistently demonstrates disproportionately high rates of communication disorders among young people involved in youth justice systems. Many young people who enter detention have unidentified or unsupported language disorders, difficulties understanding instructions, challenges engaging with education, and reduced capacity to participate effectively in legal processes. Communication impairment is not simply an educational issue; it is a social justice issue.
When children cannot communicate their needs, understand expectations, regulate emotions, or access appropriate supports, the consequences often emerge elsewhere through school disengagement, mental health crises, social exclusion, and contact with the justice system. Reducing access to communication support risks increasing these outcomes. Governments should be investing in prevention rather than paying significantly greater costs later through crisis responses, child protection involvement, mental health interventions, and incarceration.
There is also a significant workforce consideration. Speech pathology services across Australia are already experiencing workforce shortages and extensive waitlists. Reductions in funding will not only limit access for participants but may also destabilise service providers, reduce workforce retention, and further restrict availability of care, particularly in regional and rural communities. At a time when demand continues to
grow, policies that threaten the sustainability of the allied health workforce are deeply concerning.
Importantly, the conversation regarding NDIS sustainability must remain evidence based. Addressing fraud, overcharging, and misuse of funds is essential. However, reducing access to evidence-based supports for children with disability is not a substitute for effective governance and compliance measures. The solution to financial leakage within the scheme is stronger oversight and accountability—not restricting access to clinically justified interventions that improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs.
Children do not choose to have disabilities, developmental delays, communication disorders, or complex support needs. Families do not choose to navigate lengthy waitlists, fragmented systems, and increasing financial pressures. The NDIS was established to support Australians with disability to participate fully in society, not to create additional barriers to accessing essential supports.
Early intervention is not an expense to be minimised; it is an investment that delivers measurable returns across health, education, employment, social participation, and community wellbeing. Funding reductions that limit access to speech pathology and other early intervention services risk creating greater costs for schools, hospitals, mental health services, child protection systems, welfare systems, and the justice system in the years ahead.
I urge decision-makers to protect and strengthen access to evidence-based early intervention supports, maintain equitable access to speech pathology services, and ensure that efforts to improve NDIS sustainability focus on addressing fraud and systemic inefficiencies rather than reducing support for children and families who rely on these services.
A sustainable NDIS should be built on accountability, evidence, and inclusion—not on restricting access to the very interventions that enable children with disability to thrive.
Thank you for considering this submission. I urge decision-makers to prioritise evidence-based supports and the rights of people with disability when considering future reforms.
Kind Regards,
Submitted from a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and concerned Allied