Full Story Make or break for the NDIS
Feb 8, 2026
Kate Lyons, senior reporter at The Guardian who investigates social policy, digs into sweeping 2026 NDIS reforms. She unpacks the new support needs assessment and the Thriving Kids shift. She highlights worries about eligibility definitions, real family impacts, and rising tribunal overturns. The conversation maps how policy changes could reshape supports and funding.
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Support Needs Assessment Is A Major Shift
- The NDIS will introduce a 'support needs assessment' in mid-2026 that radically changes how plans and funding are determined.
- Kate Lyons says limited public information about the assessment fuels deep fear among participants and advocates.
Thriving Kids Could Shift Child Support
- The government plans a 'Thriving Kids' program to move many children (under eight with mild–moderate autism/development concerns) out of the NDIS into state-partnered early‑intervention.
- Kate Lyons warns that execution risks are high because eligibility definitions and service details remain unclear.
A Real-Life Example Of What NDIS Enables
- 'Claire' is wheelchair-bound, blind, and benefits from one‑to‑one carer support that enabled her small business and social life.
- Her family say Claire exemplifies what the NDIS can make possible and they fear losing that support amid reforms.