NDIS access changes put spotlight on missing mental health supports outside the Scheme
22 April 2026National mental health peak body Mental Health Australia was reassured by today’s confirmation that people with psychosocial disability will remain a part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Additionally, it welcomed the recognition that psychosocial supports outside the NDIS remain a top priority for the Commonwealth Government, who are keen to see States and Territories come to the negotiating table as part of the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
However, it expressed deep concern that an estimated 160,000 people may be removed from the Scheme through upcoming changes to eligibility. This is particularly alarming without first having appropriate alternative supports in place, and sits against a backdrop of ongoing, unmet psychosocial support needs, where nearly 500,000 people already cannot access the psychosocial supports they need outside the NDIS.
Its comments come in response to today’s Press Club Address by The Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health, Disability, Ageing and the NDIS, where he outlined reforms aimed at improving the Scheme’s sustainability and integrity.
Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski said addressing gaps in mental health support outside the NDIS must now be a priority for governments, along with the need for careful, considered design of the NDIS access changes.
“It’s absolutely critical that the approach to implement the changes to the NDIS is done in partnership with people with lived experience of psychosocial disability, their families, carers and kin – and the mental health and disability support sector,” she said.
“People with psychosocial disability have specific needs which must be considered from the outset to ensure the approach to reform is inclusive, and that they are not disproportionately impacted.”
“If we don’t get this right, we risk excluding people with genuine and significant support needs. That would undermine both fairness and equity in the NDIS.”
Ms Nikoloski said it was reassuring to receive confirmation that psychosocial disability remains within scope of the NDIS, providing some much-needed assurance to the 66 000 people with psychosocial disability who rely on this scheme for support every day.
“Our focus now will be ensuring that the way these changes are designed and implemented does not have the unintended consequence of disproportionately impacting people with psychosocial disability, who already find it much harder to access the NDIS, or their families and carers, who are often left to fill gaps in the system.”
“In particular, the design of the access changes flagged by Minister Butler will need to be informed by and validated with people with psychosocial disability and should be delivered by professionals with psychosocial expertise.”
Mental Health Australia also acknowledged the significant fiscal pressures and community expectations facing the NDIS and recognised the Government’s clear choice to prioritise the Scheme’s long-term integrity in today’s announcement.
“Certainly, difficult choices have been made by the Government in the context of a challenging fiscal environment and their own agreement with States and Territories to limit NDIS growth to 5-6 per cent annually,” said Ms Nikoloski.
With legislation set to be introduced into Parliament on the same day as the Federal Budget, Mental Health Australia called on the Government to work closely with people with disability, families, carers and kin and the mental health and disability support sectors on design and implementation.
Mental Health Australia said it will continue to work closely with its members to assess the impact of the announced changes on communities and the sector.
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Media contact:
Caroline Illingworth, Mental Health Australia Senior Communications Manager – 0417037595.
Emma Greeney, Mental Health Australia Director of Policy and Advocacy – 0437891671.