Full Breakdown
NDIS Funding Refusals Keep Disabled Australians Hospitalised and Underserved
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Situation
Three men receiving care at North West Regional Hospital in Burnie have been cleared for discharge by allied-health teams but remain in hospital because their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plans do not include the additional personal-support hours they need to live safely at home. They have been in the facility for three, four and five months respectively.
April Coulson, a 26-year-old from Brisbane paralysed after a spinal-cord bleed, has had her weekly therapy hours reduced from six to two after an NDIA decision deemed the extra sessions “not value for money.” The cut coincided with a denied request for a $5,000 replacement ramp and has left her reliant on unqualified support workers for activities the scheme previously funded.
Both situations illustrate how NDIS funding refusals can trap disabled Australians in institutional settings or strip them of essential rehabilitation.
Background & Context
The NDIS, a federal program costing more than $50 billion annually, recently underwent reforms intended to improve sustainability and curb fraud. The government projects the changes will save $37.8 billion over four years. Critics argue the reforms risk leaving regional and high-need participants without adequate support, especially where state health services manage hospitals but the Commonwealth controls disability funding.
Data & Statistics
- Hospital stays: 3 months, 4 months, 5 months for the three Tasmanian men.
- Therapy reduction for April Coulson: from 6 hours/week to 2 hours/week.
- Financial requests denied: a $5,000 ramp replacement; equipment estimated at over $30,000 for a full hoist or sling system.
- NDIS annual budget: >$50 billion; projected savings from reforms: $37.8 billion over four years.
Official Statements & Responses
She urged the Commonwealth to assume responsibility for the NDIS-related discharge delays.
A spokesperson for NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister declined to comment on individual cases but noted that the agency has more than halved the average discharge time for NDIS patients to 15 days since taking office, while acknowledging “challenges remain.”
Criticism & Opposition
Emma Bennison, chief executive of Disability Advocacy Network Australia, described the situation as “inhumane and unfair,” warning that similar cases are “far too common.”
Dr Martin Laverty, a co-architect of the NDIS, said current assessment practices are “very wrong” and that the scheme is “no longer fit for purpose,” especially as it pulls back on therapeutic supports needed by participants like April Coulson.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The warning I would sound is that we are going to see much more of this as the reforms roll out,” — Ms Bennison
- “We continue to care for them in the hospitals because people need to be cared for, but they no longer need to be in hospital; they are ready to go home.” — Ms Archer, Tasmania’s health minister
- “I had to get carried in and out of bed, into a shower chair,” — April Coulson
- “To put myself in the risk of someone who isn't qualified is just a danger to me.” — April Coulson
What’s Next
The NDIA plans to introduce a new support-needs assessment tool within the next 18 months, a change intended to streamline funding decisions but raising concerns about interim gaps in care. Advocates continue to press both state and federal governments for clearer pathways that prevent prolonged hospital stays and ensure essential therapy remains funded.