:format(webp))
2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for foundational supports. So we thought we’d put together a quick update on everything we know so far.
Foundational supports have been in the media lately. Reports suggest that the federal and state and territory governments aren’t playing nice in negotiations over the scope and cost sharing arrangements of this new tier of disability supports. Yet the Department of Social Service’s Disability Reform Roadmap still says foundational supports will start rolling out in the middle of the year.
The case for disability support outside the NDIS has been well established. I’ve heard the words ‘lifeboat’ and ‘oasis’ more times in the last 3 years, than in my entire life combined.
If implemented well (big IF there), foundational supports could be life-changing for the estimated 1.4 million Australians with a disability under 65 who aren’t eligible for the NDIS. It could also represent a significant opportunity for service providers who will play a role in delivering these supports.
Recap: targeted v general foundational supports
Foundational supports will be a new tier of disability supports that sit between mainstream services, that are inclusive for people with a disability, and more specialised disability services provided through the NDIS. It’s all about putting another lifeboat in the ocean.
There will be two types of foundational supports:
- General supports - including capacity building support, information and guidance and peer support. These can be accessed by NDIS participants and people not on the NDIS.
- Targeted supports - will include support for people who need lower intensity disability supports and aren’t on the NDIS. According to the DSS website, ‘These supports will focus on assisting people with specific needs (i.e. children with a developmental difference).’
The Review recommended that foundational supports include:
- Capacity building supports and information services (general)
- Navigation services to replace NDIS intermediaries (general)
- Individual advocacy support (general)
- A system advocacy disability representative organisation for LGBTQIA+ people with disability (general)
- Employment services (general)
- Home and community care (targeted)
- An aids and equipment program (targeted)
- Psychosocial disability supports (targeted)
- Early intervention supports (targeted)
- Support for life transitions (targeted)
The government has not responded to the recommendations of the NDIS review, so we don’t know how many of these supports will be implemented.
Timeline
The DSS says foundational supports will start rolling out from July 2025, through a ‘phased implementation.’ Maybe don’t bet the bank on it though. I trust my cat to stick to a schedule more than most government agencies. And the states and territories haven’t yet reached agreement over funding for foundational supports.
What’s happening at the moment?
The DSS is now leading the development of a Foundational Supports Strategy, along with state and territory governments. We all know that to get anything done in government, you first need a strategy and an action plan. The Strategy was meant to be submitted to the National Cabinet for approval in the second half of last year, but clearly, they missed the ball on that one.
In December 2023, the National Cabinet agreed to fund foundational supports through a 50-50 price-sharing agreement between the federal and state and territory governments. But shortly afterwards, state and territory governments expressed public concern over the unknown price tag of foundational supports.
Rick Morton wrote an article in the Saturday Paper about how the Prime Minister has paused negotiations over hospital funding to pressure states and territories to fund foundational supports. Since then, the government has agreed to a $1.6b one-year interim deal on hospital funding. However, negotiations over the five-year hospital deal continue, and Health Minister Mark Butler has made it clear these are tied to the foundational supports reform process.
In other words, it appears the federal government is telling the states and territories that if they want to talk about the extra hospital funding continuing for the next 5 years, paying for foundational supports is also going to need to be on the table.
Despite these dramas, Minister Butler has said that foundational supports are ‘on track.’ But the states and territories have made it clear to the media that they do not agree.
There’ll also be an election in a few months, which could put a spanner in the works.
Safe to say, things aren’t going according to plan.
What might foundational supports look like?
Even without a Foundational Supports Strategy, we have a decent idea about some of the foundational supports the government wants to implement. The DSS has released two consultation papers that outline proposals for some general and targeted foundational supports.
Let’s look at what’s been suggested. But importantly - nothing is set in stone.
General supports
Picture the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program, but better (or as the government calls it- ‘reformed’). The consultation papers proposed two service offerings as part of general supports.
Information, advice and referral services - places for people with disability and their family members to go to for disability-specific information, advice, referrals and peer support. This might include online resources and in-person hubs.
Capacity building - supports to help individuals, families and communities build capacity. For people with a disability, it might include support to help people participate in the community, self-advocate, and grow their support networks. For families, carers and kin, it would be about building their knowledge and skills to help them support their loved one with a disability, as well as skills for supporting decision making. For communities, there could be funding to help build the capacity of community organisations and services to include people with disability.
The consultation paper says DSS is looking at longer-term funding options.
Learn more: General supports consultation paper
Foundational supports for kids
The second consultation paper was on foundational supports for children with a disability or developmental delay. Children could receive both general or targeted foundational supports, with targeted supports being geared towards children who are not NDIS eligible.
The supports DSS is proposing to include:
General foundational supports for kids - including information, resources and advice for parents, parenting or peer support groups, short courses, workshops or online training programs.
Targeted foundational supports for kids - including low intensity or periodic allied health support, or a key worker to help families navigate support services.
The government is still considering eligibility criteria for foundational supports. Children who need additional support can still apply for the NDIS.
Learn more: Foundational supports for children with disabilities or developmental delays consultation paper.
What about all the other supports?
The NDIS Review recommended other foundational supports that haven’t been included in the DSS consultation. The DSS says there will be consultation on navigation services in the future, and that disability advocacy is being covered separately by the National Disability Advocacy Framework. The Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) has written a detailed submission on advocacy that you can read here: DANA foundational supports submission.
But we still don’t know whether other foundational supports the NDIS Review recommended will be implemented, including: home and community care supports, aids and equipment programs, psychosocial disability supports, support for life transitions, employment services and an LGBTIQA+ disability representative organisation.
The Review also recommended targeted supports be available to the two cohorts who have some of the highest NDIS eligibility rejection rates - people with psychosocial disability and people with disabilities resulting from chronic health conditions.
Because governments are taking their time responding to the NDIS Review, we don’t know yet how many of these recommendations will be implemented.
Given that foundational supports will be rolled out in phases, it’s quite possible that early intervention support for kids and general information and capacity-building supports are just the first tranch. But for cohorts that have traditionally been ignored from disability services, or tacked on at the last minute, it would be great to get some indication we’ve been remembered.
Will foundational supports result in more people being kicked off the NDIS?
The elephant in the room when discussing foundational supports is that many NDIS participants worry it will result in them being kicked off the NDIS or having their eligibility reassessed. We do know that the NDIA has been ramping up eligibility reassessments. According to information provided at Senate Estimates, they are now conducting an average 1,200 eligibility reassessments a week. 78% of these are for children. The NDIA says they are conducting more eligibility reassessments due to increased staff capabilities and not because of changes to the NDIS.
In an ideal world, everyone would get the disability supports that they need, regardless of whether they are in the NDIS. But it’s understandable people are worried, as without the details of what foundational supports will include or the timeline for implementation, nobody wants to lose their disability supports and have to wait for an ideal society that might never eventuate.
To learn more about eligibility reassessments, check out our article: NDIS Act Explained: Eligibility reassessments. For service providers supporting people through eligibility reassessments, check out our training: NDIS Eligibility Reassessments.
For more information
To keep up to date with what’s happening with foundational supports, check out the DSS website. You can also sign up to be notified of updates.
Artwork by Ashleigh Rozier, Iain Walker, Amber Beder and Allan Chua from Bayley Arts. Bayley Arts supports artists with a disability to create, exhibit and sell art. Learn more about Bayley Arts.
