Who Is the NDIS For? Myths and Facts About Who Gets Funding

In short: The NDIS was designed for people with a permanent and significant disability — including many lifelong conditions. It was never meant to be the only support for every child with a developmental concern. Recent reforms aim to return the scheme to that original purpose, while building new "foundational supports" so more children can get help earlier, outside the NDIS.

This is a sensitive topic, and there has been a lot of commentary — some of it confusing or alarming. This article sticks to the facts and points to official sources, so you can understand who the NDIS is for and what is changing.

Who is the NDIS for?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme provides individualised funding for Australians who have a permanent and significant disability that substantially affects their everyday life. To meet the disability requirements, a person generally needs to:

Have a disability caused by a permanent impairment (physical, intellectual, sensory, cognitive or psychosocial)
That is likely to be lifelong
And that substantially reduces their ability to take part in everyday activities

People usually need to be under 65 when they first apply, and meet residency requirements. There is also an early intervention pathway — including the early childhood approach for young children — where early support is expected to reduce a person's future need for support.

What was the NDIS originally designed to do?

The case for the NDIS was made by the Productivity Commission in its 2011 inquiry into disability care and support. It recommended replacing Australia's fragmented, unfair disability services with a national insurance scheme for people with significant, ongoing disability.

At the time, the scheme was expected to support around 411,000 participants at maturity. It has since grown well beyond that. Much of that growth is a sign of real, previously unmet need — but it has also prompted governments to look closely at who the scheme was designed for, and how to keep it sustainable for the long term.

Why are children such a large part of the scheme?

Children are now a large share of NDIS participants. By recent analyses of NDIS data, autism and developmental delay together account for around three-quarters of participants aged under 18.

There's an important reason for this: for many families, the NDIS became the main door to getting any help, because other early-childhood, health and school supports were thin or hard to access. When the NDIS is the only "lifeboat", more families understandably reach for it.

It helps to separate two different things:

Around one in five Australian children has a developmental concern, delay or learning difficulty at some point.
A much smaller group of children has a permanent and significant disability.

Both groups deserve support — but they don't all need the same kind, and they were never all intended to receive lifelong individualised NDIS funding. This distinction sits at the heart of the current reforms.

Myths and facts about NDIS eligibility

Myth: "A diagnosis automatically means NDIS funding."

Fact: Eligibility is based on a permanent and significant disability and its functional impact on daily life — not on a diagnostic label by itself. Two people with the same diagnosis can have very different support needs, and the NDIS looks at the impact, not just the label.

Myth: "The NDIS is for any child who is a bit behind."

Fact: Developmental concerns in early childhood are common, and many children catch up or do well with early support through health services, education and, increasingly, foundational supports. The NDIS was designed for permanent and significant disability — not as the first or only response to every developmental concern.

Myth: "The government is saying children shouldn't get help, and kids are being kicked off."

Fact: Children with a permanent and significant disability, and young children with high support needs, remain eligible for the NDIS. The changes are about building other ways to support children with lower or emerging needs — not removing support and offering nothing in its place.

Myth: "The NDIS is being cut for everyone."

Fact: The reforms are about sustainability and matching support to need, so the scheme can continue for the people it was designed for. The NDIS is not being abolished, and people with permanent and significant disability remain at its centre.

Truth: "The NDIS is meant for lifelong, permanent and significant disability."

This is correct — and it has been reaffirmed by recent reforms, which the government describes as restoring the NDIS to its original intent of supporting people with permanent and significant disability.

What is changing — foundational supports and "Thriving Kids"

Following the independent NDIS Review, governments are building foundational supports — services that sit outside the NDIS and are available more broadly, so people don't need an individual NDIS plan to get help.

The first phase for children is called Thriving Kids. In summary:

Governments have committed to jointly invest around $4 billion over five years.
It is aimed at children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low-to-moderate support needs, plus their families and carers.
It will be delivered through local, mainstream services (such as health, education and community services), led by state and territory governments.
New local services are expected to start rolling out from late 2026, with changes to NDIS access for this group planned from 2028.

Importantly, children with a permanent and significant disability — and young children with high support needs — are expected to remain eligible for the NDIS.

What this means if your child is already on the NDIS

If your child is already an NDIS participant, this is understandably worrying to read. A few things to keep in mind:

Children with significant or high support needs are expected to stay on the scheme.
Changes are being phased in over several years, not overnight.
Foundational supports are intended to be an additional door to help — not simply a removal of support.
The best information about your own situation will come from the NDIS and your support coordinator or planner.

If something about your plan changes, you also have the right to ask for a decision to be reviewed.

How to get the right support

Whatever pathway is right for your family, the foundation is a good assessment of needs. Speaking with your GP, paediatrician or an allied health professional helps clarify what kind of support will actually help — whether that's through the NDIS, foundational supports, health or education.

As a registered NDIS provider, we can help with assessment and allied health input. You can explore our NDIS support services and allied health team, check your eligibility, or make a referral. To understand the recent funding changes, see our guide to the NDIS funding changes. To talk it through, contact our team — support is available in several languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the NDIS?

The NDIS is for people with a permanent and significant disability that substantially affects everyday life. You generally need to be under 65 when you apply and meet residency requirements. There is also an early intervention pathway, including the early childhood approach for young children.

Does an autism diagnosis guarantee NDIS funding?

No. Eligibility is based on the permanent and significant impact of a disability on daily life, not on a diagnosis alone. Some autistic people meet the access requirements and others are better supported through mainstream and foundational supports. The NDIS assesses functional impact, not just the diagnostic label.

Is it true the NDIS is only for lifelong disability?

The NDIS was designed for people with a permanent and significant disability — which for many people is lifelong. Recent reforms reaffirm this purpose. It was never intended to be the only support for every child with a developmental concern, which is why foundational supports are being built.

Will my child be removed from the NDIS?

Children with a permanent and significant disability, and young children with high support needs, are expected to remain eligible. Changes for children with lower or emerging needs are being phased in over several years, alongside new foundational supports. For your own situation, check with the NDIS or your support coordinator.

What are foundational supports and "Thriving Kids"?

Foundational supports are services available outside the NDIS, so people don't need an individual plan to get help. "Thriving Kids" is the first phase for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low-to-moderate needs, delivered through local services and led by state and territory governments.

Where can I get reliable information about eligibility?

Use official sources such as the NDIS website and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and speak with your GP, paediatrician or support coordinator. Be cautious about claims on social media, which are often incomplete or out of date.

Trusted sources for further reading

This article is general information only and is current as at June 2026. NDIS policy is changing, and timelines may shift. It is not legal, financial or medical advice. For advice about your own eligibility or plan, please contact the NDIS or speak with your support coordinator or planner.

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