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The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides support to almost twice the number of Australians than originally intended. Costs have blown out dramatically, with savings needing to be made. Speaking at the National Press Club yesterday, Minister for Disability and the NDIS Mark Butler announced a new plan to “secure the future” of the scheme.
The cornerstone of this plan is that children aged under nine with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism – who currently make up a large portion of new entrants to the NDIS – will transition from the scheme to a new foundational support program called Thriving Kids.
This program could divert substantial budgetary pressure away from the NDIS. But as Helen Dickinson, Anne Kavanagh and Catherine Smith explain, there will be several challenges to ensuring it serves children and families well.
These range from the question of whether federal and state/territory governments can effectively cooperate, to ensuring disadvantaged groups receive equitable support.
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Phoebe Roth
Health Editor
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Helen Dickinson, UNSW Sydney; Anne Kavanagh, The University of Melbourne; Catherine Smith, The University of Melbourne
With children over-represented on the NDIS, it’s hoped this new program could divert pressure from the scheme. Here’s what we know about it so far.
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Duygu Yengin, University of Adelaide
Even at this week’s roundtable, Australia is still overlooking half the workforce. Smarter regulation and women’s full participation could boost productivity.
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Danielle Ireland-Piper, Australian National University
Australia’s process of granting (and cancelling) visas is back in the spotlight. It’s a complicated issue, both legally and politically.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The Executive Council of Australia Jewry has called on both leaders to tone down the rhetoric as Australia and Israel continue a war of words.
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Nerilie Abram, Australian National University; Ariaan Purich, Monash University; Felicity McCormack, Monash University; Jan Strugnell, James Cook University; Matthew England, UNSW Sydney
The vast ice of Antarctica has long seemed impregnable. But sudden changes are arriving – from shrinking sea ice to melting ice sheets and slowing ocean currents.
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Kelvin (Shiu Fung) Wong, Swinburne University of Technology; Wenting (Wendy) Chen, UNSW Sydney
Tests such as Myers-Briggs promise self-discovery – but here’s why you shouldn’t take them too seriously.
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Hassan Vally, Deakin University
These arguments sound convincing but lead to false or misleading conclusions. Here’s how to spot them.
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Robert Boucaut, University of Adelaide; Alexander H. Beare, University of Adelaide
As a star player faces a season-ending suspension, it’s clear the AFL, and the media that report on it, must do better to stamp out homophobia.
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Peyton McCauley, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Melissa Scanlan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
In 2024, one data center in Iowa consumed 1 billion gallons of water, enough to supply all the state’s residences with water for five days.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
While the summit’s program is well-defined, it’s much harder to know what’s going on behind closed doors.
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Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Monash University
The 700-page final report has strong recommendations and offers a model that should be examined across Australia.
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Emma Baker, University of Adelaide; Andrew Beer, University of South Australia; Rachel Ong ViforJ, Curtin University
Housing not only provides much-needed homes, it can drive the economy in a range of ways. But to harness its potential, we need to do it differently.
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Health + Medicine
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Milena Heinsch, University of Tasmania; Campbell Tickner, University of Tasmania
A suicide attempt doesn’t always involve prior planning or thinking. But there are warnings signs.
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Christopher Rudge, University of Sydney; Reeve McClelland, University of Sydney
Psychedelic-assisted therapy offers promise. But new research highlights concerns about safety and accessibility.
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Business + Economy
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Susan Stone, University of South Australia
No government wants to be blamed for the job losses that often follow a company collapse. But taxpayer support must get some key things right.
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Leah Watkins, University of Otago; Louise Signal, University of Otago
Companies are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target children with advertising, particularly the unregulated ‘junk food’ industry.
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Environment + Energy
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Eva F Nisa, Australian National University; Faried F Saenong, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII)
In a time of mounting ecological challenges, all sources of wisdom are vital – including Islamic teachings that offer guidance for living in harmony with nature.
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Science + Technology
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Orsola De Marco, Macquarie University
An ‘extremely stripped supernova’ confirms the existence of a key feature of physicists’ models of how stars produce the elements that make up the Universe.
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Tania Barone, Swinburne University of Technology
Everything bends space-time. Sometimes, we can even see this effect – and learn a lot from it.
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Anna Marie Brennan, University of Waikato
As a Russian space mission is set to launch mice into orbit, regulations are long overdue to recognise the sentience of animals and protect their welfare.
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Arts + Culture
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Kirsten Zemke, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Ever since country music spread from the US, Māori have related to its themes of longing, land, love and community. A Matariki mashup played all the right notes.
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Books + Ideas
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Jamie Q. Roberts, University of Sydney
Conrad suggests our sense of being good derives from our belonging – yet that to which we belong is not necessarily good.
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Social media ban
"I read the tips for preparing your kids for the social media ban. But I am simply not there yet. I don't believe the ban will have any practical effect. My kids (tweens) and their friends have already created accounts with false dates of birth to avoid the ban. They'll still be able to use YouTube without an account. Until a clear and believable strategy is promoted by the government and the platforms themselves, I can't see anyone with older children feeling any differently."
Emily M Morgan
Albo's 'brave' call
"Benjamin Netanyahu resorted to X to call our prime minister ‘weak’ for recognising a Palestinian state and in retaliation for denying a visa to Israeli politicians who foment hate and division. I think it was brave. I am hoping our government has the courage to take the next step and impose meaningful sanctions on Israel and a complete embargo on arms trade."
Marilyn Lebeter
Glad you enjoyed it!
"Thank you for running the review of Omar el Akkad’s essay collection. It was great to see the link in my inbox. More of this kind of thing, please."
Adam Ford
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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