The Editor’s Desk
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has joined the Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) campaign calling on Canberra to come up with a contemporary funding model for local governments across Queensland.
The “Don’t leave us stuck in the 70’s” campaign aims to remind politicians in Canberra that the current funding model supporting councils was first introduced in the mid-1970s and is not sustainable.
TRC Mayor Geoff McDonald said the Toowoomba Region was fully on board given Council had experienced significant funding decreases in recent times.
“I applaud LGAQ’s campaign to highlight that funding of Council communities like the Toowoomba Region has been going backwards for some time.
“It’s an issue we have been trying to highlight recently and for us in the Toowoomba Region, it is a genuine lived experience of funding having decreased over time.
“Councils like TRC shouldn’t be punished financially because of our sound financial track record which is what has occurred recently with our Financial Assistance Grants (FA Grants).
“In the 2021/22 financial year, TRC received over $19 million in untied FA Grants from the Australian Government through the Queensland Grants Commission, an amount that was fairly consistent for quite some time.
“That amount to Council has been decreasing each year since 2021/22 and the amount we are expected to receive in the 2024/25 year is just $5.5 million, a $13.5 million decrease,” Mayor McDonald said.
“To put that in perspective, a one per cent rate rise across our region is worth about $1.5 million so we are talking about a significant drop in FA Grant revenue during the past 4 financial years.
“If Council was to attempt to recoup that reduction in revenue through rates, we are talking about something like a 9 per cent rate rise across the board just to cover the loss of our FA Grants. Our community simply wouldn’t accept that and neither should the decision-makers in Canberra who have allowed Councils like ours to be underfunded for so long,” he said.
“The current funding model is not sustainable and has huge impacts on the services we provide to our communities. The decreases have been explained to us as being because of Council’s ongoing sound financial position which is not fair at all to families across the Toowoomba Region.
“I call on relevant decision makers in Canberra to give local government a fair go into the future because it is having a genuine impact on families who are already struggling during the current costof-living crisis,” Mayor McDonald said.
WhatsUp in Disability greatly appreciates the generous support of the TRC in producing our magazine and the Paul Myatt Community Centre and support the TRC in this campaign to receive fair and equitable funding through the Federal Government that, if not increased will greatly effect community programs such as ours and many other valuable programs through the region.
Steven Paull
JP (Qual) President
WhatsUp Feature
Recently the Toowoomba Disability Service Provider Network members were able to have a meeting with Garth Hamilton, the Federal Member for Groom having been elected in the 2020 Groom by-election, following the retirement of John McVeigh to discuss the NDIS and the upcoming Federal Election.
Garth was very generous with his time and extremely open with his answers.
Discussion on the NDIS
What's the plan for the timeline of the Royal Commission because I think we're all aware that there's not a lot happening in that space at the moment?
The Royal Commission's probably the biggest thing on my mind about the NDIS. Not being within the government, I can't speak to the guidance that's been given. Either side, we want to see what the recommendations are. But one of the things that concerns me whenever we have a Royal Commission is that we go too far.
So we've got to be really careful, not just to blindly take on what comes out of it, but to go through it really sensibly and understand what comes out of it.
I'm just reading the newest minister saying that the growth is about 12% this year. I think they're hoping that it comes down to the 8% target by 2026. And I'm not sure that measuring NDIS on growth is the right measurement. I think it should, I would hope it would be more on outcomes and improved living conditions.
There's clearly been an escalation in the cost of NDIS. When we face 10 years of deficits in front of us, which is what the last budget tells us, it's really difficult to see programs expanding into that space
and continue growing during that period. That's a concern. We expect appropriate care for people with disabilities to be in place. And I would be concerned that we don't manage that. I think if negativity builds on NDIS, you won't have a managed conversation about its future. I would be concerned about that.
You mentioned that you're worried about the criminal aspect of what's going on with the NDIS. How do you combat that? That's a big deal, isn't it?
It is, and I think everyone around this table would have heard of some of these things because it's become quite a common story in the NDIS of people who clearly aren't there with good intent and we need to separate this. There are people who have committed their lives to looking after people with disabilities and have made it their specialty and love it and do a wonderful role in society. We need to separate that conversation from the element who are seeing this as an ability to make a legal profit out of it.
It's terribly concerning.
Do you think our laws aren't strong enough to deter these people from doing that sort of thing, Do we need to get a bit tougher?
The NDIS was built upon the coming together of people who did a hell of a lot of good in our community and we had the understanding that we would be creating a structure to allow us to continue to do good in our community in a nationally organised scheme I don't think we would have ever foreseen an international organised crime syndicate identifying this program as being a vulnerability for us and I think most Australians would expect us to be cracking down on that in the strongest possible terms.
Garth Hamilton
The NDIA CEO has recently come out and admitted that they don't read the reports. Now there's probably millions and millions and millions of Australian dollars that have been spent to create those reports and nobody reads them. I think there's an issue there and that speaks to efficiency. The second one then is the feedback I've had previously was if you look at the number of reports required, there is almost no way that Australia can provide the number of trained professionals at an appropriate level to make informed decisions on those reports. That tells me that the model is not built around anything approaching a realistic capability set. How awful the pace rollout was, from a provider's point of view, like how on earth we, as providers, are supposed to help our families navigate a system that is so inconsistent at every level?
Sitting here, and I'm not in the NDIS, and the NDIS is an absolutely beautiful thing, and we're one of the only countries that provide this for our community. With the amount of money that we're spending on it, it should be finetuned. These problems can't continue on, because at this stage, from a business point of view, why would you have a business like that?
At many of these forums we sit with the opposite side of the government to talk about the problems that we have, and we get the nods and we get the agreements, and as soon as that government gets into power, it's forgotten about. Well, I would, I challenge this, and this is all on record. We had a series of substantial amendments to the NDIS in our last term, that I was aware of because I
By Steven Paull and Tony Wigan
came in halfway through that term. Changes to the NDIS that we sought to bring about through legislation and Labor didn't support those, so we couldn't get them through. We certainly weren't getting them through the crossbench. I'm glad that Labor has, now they've come into government, put their amendments on and we have supported their amendments. But that bipartisanship only goes back to the last election. Before that, Labor did not support us in trying to make some of these amendments. And we have fully supported amendments that have been made there.
If we don't have the NDIS, we're going back to the fifties where there's got to be a parent at home at all times. This is what we must avoid. That's why my opening comments are very much
WhatsUp Feature
I think we've had a sufficient discussion on the NDIS, and I appreciate your time on that, but perhaps just to end it off, what are you looking at for this region?
Well, I've had a reasonably similar view for the last 3 years, I think we're a wonderful region. You'll hear people talk about how we've been short-changed and how because we're safe we don't get enough. I want to address this straight up. I want you to tell me any other regional city in Australia that's better than Toowoomba.
There's $110 billion in the infrastructure pipeline. You divide that by 152 seats, it's about $732 million each. That's what we should be getting each over 10 years. We've got about $5 billion in front of us, seven times the national average in this seat. Go back 10 years, we had $1.2 billion with a second range crossing.
What do you see as being special about our region?
We've got great community groups. We've got some of the best philanthropists on earth that live in our region and support us. I think we've gone through the stage where it's about being a place that just has the things you need, the schools, the hospitals. I think we now need to turn towards seeing ourselves as a genuine city, a place that's a destination that people want to come to, not just for work or not just because it's cheaper, but because there is something special about this place.
That's about moving towards what people want, not just what we need, but what we want. We don't have to create quarantine facilities that cost $400 million and try to drop white elephants around the place. We just need to sup-
port the community organisations, and the things that people want, which are manifested in the sporting groups, the clubs, the things that are already happening.
What should the Government be doing in our region?
I think we should be getting behind the things that exist. A great example is the Equestrian Centre. That's something that's been wanted. That's something that they've been pushing for years. We don't have to create something new and drop it in and try to tell people that we're wonderful because it's the best of its kind.
What should the current Government be focused on?
You know what we really need to do? We need to fix up our damn budget. 10 years of deficits in front of us. When that budget came out, that was before Trump's tariffs and they're gonna have an impact on our economy, and we've got a vital opportunity to respond to it because we have 10 years of deficits in front of us. What happens next time there's a trade war? What happens next time there's a war? What happens next time there's a massive drought? What ability do we have as a nation to respond to those things? We don't. We've got structural deficits. So we need to address that.
What are some of the things that you believe strongly about?
I support our coal mine. I support red meat, I support our gas industry, I want those things to keep going. I don't want to tell everybody that you need to move to electric cars. If you want to have one, go for it, it's awesome, good for you. If you want solar, good for you. But if we
The Federal Election
want factories and if we want jobs that people make things that require cheap energy. That's the fact. All the manufacturing jobs we've lost to India and China, are being powered by coal that we dig up here and send over there so that they can have cheap energy. That's the fact. We're not changing anything. If we want those jobs here, we have to have that affordable energy. We've put nuclear on the table.
What about the blossoming issues around renewable power?
Solar farms? Look, if they work they work. You know what, we've got enough space. We absolutely do. We've also got some wonderful agricultural land that I'd like to keep farmers on. When you have a farm, you have a family there, the kids go to school, you go see the doctor, that keeps the GP in town, you go to the baker, you do that.
You have a big solar farm and every month, a couple of people come through and will mow and that's the job that you're providing on that land now.
But when the wind stops, the wind terminals aren't as great. They're part of the solution, absolutely no question. But every model, and even Chris Bowen says this now, every model with renewables requires more gas.
You need something that's going to be there no matter what. Gas moves up and down. Nuclear does it too.
If we want to move the conversation on and get better outcomes, we need to be honest about it and no longer point and scream and say, you're evil because you don't love the environment, because you don't think we can only have one source of energy. I think we need to get past that.
By Steven Paull and Tony Wigan
Groom Candidates 2025
Eight candidates were officially announced in the battle for the seat of Groom and they’ll appear on the ballot in the following order.
1. Suzie Holt (Independent)
Groom needs vital infrastructure around healthcare, education and transport.
2. Rebecca Konz (One Nation)
Reducing renewable energy, strengthening family support through income splitting, and improving health outcomes.
3. Alexandra Todd (Family First)
Ensure the “building blocks of society” weren’t compromised.
4. Alyce Nelligan (Greens)
Disability advocate and Greens candidate is focusing her campaign on cost of living, housing, and healthcare.
5. Garth Hamilton (Liberal National)
The current representative, Garth’s profile appears in this issue.
6. Kirsty Smolenski (Independent)
Ensure vital health facilities and transport were a priority for the Toowoomba region.
7. Jamie Kerr (Trumpet of Patriots)
Is yet to announce the policies that the party will to the table.
8. Richard Edwards (Labor)
Toowoomba mental health practitioner.
Good luck to all the candidates
WhatsUp Carers
By George Helon, Carer and National Advocate
Carers are the mainstay of the aged care, health and disability sectors. We save the government billions each year yet are treated like monkeys to be thrown a handful of peanuts for our selfless efforts and personal sacrifices.
Both the Federal government and the opposition have had ample opportunities over the years to appropriately acknowledge the plight of carers, to properly and legally recognise us, to afford us the same legal and statutory rights, entitlements, and benefits as paid support workers, and rightly remunerate carers for all our selfless efforts and personal sacrifices so that our financial needs and future security are sufficiently addressed.
And even when the most recent federal budget was handed down, primary carers weren’t even acknowledged by either the government or the opposition for all we do in saving the government conservatively between $77.9 to a staggering $126.2 billion dollars each year.
Carers are seeking 6 policy commitment priorities from all candidates for the 2025 election.
Priority 1
Amend the Carers Recognition Act 2010 to clearly define and delineate carers versus paid support workers and ensure penalties are both included and enforceable for any misrepresentation.
Priority 2
Amend as required various legislative Acts to set the basic rate of support for those receiving carer allowance to twenty-five percent of the age pension partnered rate.
Priority 3
Immediately present a new Bill or initiate legislative amendments to various Acts as required to introduce a carer allowance transition benefit.
Priority 4
Immediately present new Bills or initiate legislative amendments to various Acts as required to enshrine the legal recognition of carers and to guarantee them access to tax and income-test free superannuation savings and benefits.
Priority 5
Immediately initiate a show-cause program – and survey all carers nationallyto ensure having and funding peak representative bodies is of any real value for the government’s investment in them, and that they are actually serving the advocacy and service needs of carers nationally.
Priority 6
Immediately table the national petition ‘Time to Recognise and Care for Unpaid Carers!’ (signed by almost 26,000 supporters) to the Australian parliament in order to bring the suffering, plight and needs of carers to the attention of the people of Australia and effect the proposals therein.
Disability Reforms
By Steven Paull
Queensland Disability Reforms
Queensland is working on the disability reforms that includes the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review.
The Queensland Disability Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Design Strategy was released in late 2024 to put people with disability at the heart of disability reform processes through co-design.
The Strategy will support delivery of the Queensland Disability Reform Framework (QDRF).
The QDRF was released on 31 July 2024 alongside the Queensland Government response to the Disability Royal Commission. The QDRF sets out the key outcomes and priorities for the Queensland Government to drive disability reform in Queensland.
The QDRF provides an outcomes based, structured approach to delivering disability reform in Queensland.
The QDRF is underpinned by the Queensland Government responses to the Disability Royal Commission, the initial response to the NDIS Review and Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 –2031.
The QDRF sets out key focus areas and initial reforms under three broad objectives:
The rights, voices and participation of people with disability are elevated
Queenslanders with disability can access high quality, safe services
Strong structures to drive outcomes for Queenslanders with disability
Queensland Disability Network
A key part of work to implement these reforms is engaging and co-designing with the disability community including people with disability, families, disability providers, peak bodies, advocacy as well as local, state and federal Government agencies.
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) are leading the implementation of the Strategy.
Thank you to everyone who attended the community forums in partnership with the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety. The community forums took place across Queensland attracting 787 registrations for the opportunity to provide input into disability reform, planning and an insight into the various ways that stakeholders can get involved.
WhatsUp Middlemen
NDIS spends $1bn-plus on fees for middlemen managers
Billions of dollars a year in NDIS funding is being soaked up by middlemen plan managers and support coordinators who command hourly rates on par with junior doctors, as established service provider organisations are pushed to the wall amid a critical lack of regulation that is allowing many unscrupulous providers to flourish
Billions of dollars a year in NDIS funding is being soaked up by middlemen plan managers charging “trail fees” and support coordinators who command hourly rates on par with junior doctors, as established service provider organisations are pushed to the wall while some unscrupulous providers flourish.
The “trail fees” alone charged by plan managers tally more than $1bn annually, reducing funding for direct services provided to people with disability, warns experienced National Disability Insurance Scheme service provider and WA pediatrician James Fitzpatrick.
Dr Fitzpatrick is calling for NDIS plan managers and support coordination to be abolished within a year.
While reforms to shore up long-term sustainability of the $46bn NDIS, one of the biggest spending programs in the federal budget, have focused heavily on cracking down on fraudulent providers and tightening eligibility, much bigger sources of waste are going unchecked, with little scrutiny on plan managers and support coordinators, as well as the quality and value of service provision generally.
Dr Fitzpatrick, who has been providing disability care through a service organisation across remote Australia since the
By Geraldine Allan
inception of the NDIS more than a decade ago, has described plan management and support co-ordination as “a fundamental flaw in the NDIS design” that has effectively set up a gravy train and created additional bureaucracy and administrative load.
“The plan management model has diverted substantial resources within the NDIS and has made it more complex to administer for therapy providers, and this has resulted in less resources being available for direct service provision,” he said.
“For each participant, a set-up fee, depending on remoteness of the participant, of between $230 and $350 is paid to the plan managers; followed by what
could be defined as a ‘trail fee’ of between $104 and $157 per month paid to plan managers, for the life of the participant’s plan.
“The (total) cost of plan management has been around $190m in set-up fees and is around $86m in trail fees per month, or a touch over $1bn in trail fees paid to plan managers per year.”
The peak body National Disability Services is pushing for mandatory registration of all disability service providers, with many established large organisations on the brink of viability struggling to carry out essential clinical governance amid stagnating therapy prices. Many other providers who do not invest in quality control within their organisation or service are not facing the same difficulties and face little scrutiny on the quality of their care and services.
“Organisations that are committed to providing quality services are under significant strain,” said NDS chief executive Michael Perusco.
“There’s an extreme risk that we’re going to lose quality providers from the market if we don’t see tiered pricing and registration for all providers. There needs to be much stronger regulation of providers.
“If we lose quality providers from the system, that’s going to be devastating for the NDIS. Without universal registration, it is very difficult to guarantee the safety of participants, which is, ultimately, what the scheme is all about.”
Registration of providers of NDIS services is contentious in the disability community, with some arguing mandatory registration and associated quality control and audit processes could disadvantage small providers and have a negative impact on participants’ choice and control.
The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce last year stopped short of recommending all service providers be registered, instead opting for registration based on the level of risk involved in the service provision. The federal
government has so far moved to implement a new registration system limited to requiring all platform providers, support coordinators and supported independent living providers to be registered.
Mr Perusco said it remained a major issue for the NDIS, and its safety and sustainability, that most providers were operating without rigorous oversight.
“Universal registration means that all providers will have oversight from the NDIS commission, and that is absolutely critical to getting better value for money out of the scheme,” he said.
The NDIS currently has more than 700,000 participants, and cost growth has been a persistent budget concern for the federal government. NDIS Minister Amanda Rishworth said last week the scheme was tracking to come in $700m lower than the $46.4bn forecast in last year’s budget.
Clarity around what products and services NDIS participants are entitled to, and a crackdown on fraud, had seen year-on-year cost growth of 10 per cent rather than the forecast 12 per cent, Ms Rishworth said.
She noted that cost growth was now on track to reach national cabinet’s target of 8% by mid-next year.
Questions around the quality of services for people with disability have also been raised, most recently by NDIS Quality and Safeguards Assistant Commissioner Natalie Wade.
“We are done with people with disability dying preventable deaths, of being raped and abused in services. We’re done with people with disability not getting what they need from services.
“It’s incumbent upon all of us in these privileged roles to ensure that we are absolutely investing our time and our effort and our focus on ensuring that there is an absolutely better, better future for people with disability in this nation.”
Dr Fitzpatrick also questioned the ongoing role of support coordinators in the
WhatsUp Middlemen
NDIS, arguing that while they were intended to be a community-embedded workforce to help NDIS participants choose, and access, appropriate and effective therapy and other supports – an important step in the early days of the NDIS – they were too costly and no longer necessary.
“A specialist support coordinator, often personnel with no or limited formal health or disability qualifications, is funded at $190.54 per hour in the city, or $285.80 per hour in very remote communities, to spend time with participants helping them to choose and access services,” Dr Fitzpatrick said.
“Support coordinators, often with no formal qualification, can command salaries on par with junior doctors, experienced teachers or allied health workers. This amount is paid for every hour of activity, including the hours of travel to and from a participant.
“Support coordinators' reports and recommendations often advise highly qualified allied health professionals of the therapy priorities of a participant, a practice that may inadvertently override best-practice clinical care.
“In what has become a vacuum of commonsense advocacy that was historically undertaken by individuals and families working with local human services providers (think health, education, aged care, child protection), support coordinators filled the NDIS-induced void to support the decision-making of participants and broker the services they choose, including which service providers they use.
“Problematically, an organisation can deliver plan management (influencing funding allocation), support coordination (influencing the services and
providers a participant chooses), and therapy services. The one provider can therefore influence the choice of supports, administer the funding, and provide the therapy supports, for a participant or a group of participants. No organisation can guarantee that there is no potential for bias within such a closed system.”
Dr Fitzpatrick argued that these middle layers of management could be abolished if people’s plans were directly managed by the NDIS, or self-managed with the support of the organisations providing various services.
“Determining the most appropriate therapy and support for participants should be the domain of the participant and qualified allied health or social work practitioners, ideally through the evidence-based lead practitioner or key worker model,” he said.
“That would also more closely bond them to practical and goals-oriented therapy services that work.”
Former NDIS minister Bill Shorten moved last year to crack down on exploitation of the scheme by some plan managers and support coordinators amid evidence of widespread lack of tax compliance and practices in which these managers were encouraging their clients to overspend their plans in a bid to attract funding increases, work that is continuing.
The NDIA Fraud Fusion Taskforce, enhanced its systems to better detect and evaluate early plan reviews submitted by plan managers and support coordinators, as well as working with other government agencies to ensure compliance and detect fraudulent providers by sharing payment data with the tax office.
The National Assistance Card is a personalised card to assist people with disability in the community. The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
The Card is currently available to autistic people and people with brain injury in Australia.
The Card can be used in everyday and emergency situations to help cardholders communicate their unique areas of difficulty and the assistance they may need.
Every Card is personalised, and cardholders can choose what information to include on their Card. Additional information (in writing and/or via video) can be added to a QR code.
Anyone who is eligible can complete the online application here: www.nationalassistancecard.com.au/ apply
By Julie Cross
Ben Green
WhatsUp Updates
Recent Updates Summary
Federal Budget
The Federal government handed down the 2025-26 Budget last week. It includes:
• $364.5m over 5 years to reform the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program. From 202930, the program will get $150.9m annually.
• $151m over four years for the NDIA’s Crack Down on Fraud program. From 2029-30, this program will be funded at $43.8m per year.
• $17.1m over 4 years for Accessible Australia Initiative (replacing the Changing Places Initiative).
• $7.3m to extend supplementary funding for Legal Aid and NDIS appeals advocacy providers.
• $42.3m over the next five years to deliver the National Autism Strategy and implement the Strategy’s Action Plan.
• $11m over four years to increase the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support subsidy.
New NDIS Rules
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has introduced two new NDIS Rules: one relates to plan variations and assessments, and the other concerns the management of NDIS funds.
The Plan Variation and Reassessment Rules clarify the circumstances under which the NDIA can: vary a plan in response to a crisis or emergency make minor variations to a plan change the plan reassessment date undertake a plan reassessment at the request of a participant or on their own initiative.
The Management of Funding Rules provide more details about when the NDIA can reject a participant or plan nominee’s request to self or plan-manage their funding.
Changes to Casual Employment Rules
As of 26 February 2025, eligible casual employees can request to transition to full-time or part-time employment under the new employee choice pathway. To be eligible, the casual employee must have been employed for at least 6 months (12 months for small business) and believe they no longer meet the definition of a casual employee. Employers can only refuse for specific reasons. The Fair Work Ombudsman has created various templates to assist employees in making this request and to help employers comply with the new regulations.
Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website for more information as well as other changes already in place at Closing Loopholes.
Mission Critical
By Sara Gingold DSC
Changes to PRODA Login
As part of the NDIA’s efforts to combat fraud, they are strengthening their identity verification process. Starting in mid2025, the Provider Digital Access (PRODA) system will be replaced by the Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM), which is a verification service managed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO). All providers who access NDIS portals will need to create an Australian Government-managed identity, known as myID, in order to log in to RAM.
Providers can start preparing now by creating their myID and will be able to set up their RAM account beginning in mid-2025.
Mandatory Registration
The NDIS Commission is consulting on the transition to mandatory registration for Platform Providers, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, and Support Coordinators. Surveys on this topic have recently closed. The final provider forum will take place in April, and insight reports are expected to be released in June 2025. No changes to mandatory registration will happen before 1 July 2025.
Super guarantee increase
The super guarantee will increase from its current 11.5% to 12% on 1 July 2025. Employers are obligated to pay the required super guarantee amount by the quarterly due date. Organisations
can establish whether a worker is eligible for super using the ATO tool, including using the contributions calculator to establish the correct amount to contribute. More details and resources are available on the ATO website.
NDIS Commission Quarterly Report
The NDIS Commission has released its latest Quarterly Performance Report for the October to December 2024 quarter, highlights include:
The total number of registered providers has increased by 7%, reaching a total of 21,387 registered providers for this quarter.
During this period, there were 1,749 new registrations and 363 deregistrations.
The turnaround time for registration decisions post-audit has significantly improved. New applications have seen a decrease from 340 days to 204 days for certification, and from 56 days to 29 days for verification.
Registration renewal decisions have also seen a significant reduction in wait times.
A total of 2,059 compliance and enforcement activity outcomes were recorded, which included 1,218 refusals of registration and 597 education activities.
The NDIS Commission's Quarterly Performance Report is available on the NDIS Commission website.
WhatsUp NDIS
Bold decisions needed to constrain NDIS growth report
The Financial Review
The federal government will struggle to constrain growth in the $44 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme at below 8%, with sign-up rates expected to increase and average payment costs surging, according to Grattan Institute research.
Warning the NDIS is failing to achieve its original goals and is groaning under the weight of unsustainable work volumes.
The think tank's policy blueprint for the winner of the federal election says efforts to curb waste and fraud are unlikely to make any significant difference to the scheme's price tag. Already one of the fastest-growing pressures on the federal budget, the NDIS cost $43.9 billion in 2023-24 and is expected to reach $60 billion by the end of the decade.
Labor wants to bring its annual growth rate down to 8% by next year. The Grattan report says that at 13% in 2024, reaching the target will be challenging.
While sign-up rates for all major disabilities are still in the low to mid-20s, the NDIS, types were below expectations last year. The report says the drop likely resulted from the NDIS-owned operational failures and new entrants will grow again this financial year as the backlog in eligibility assessments is cleared.
Despite Productivity Commission predictions the NDIS would cover about 490,000 participants, nearly 700,000
Australians are enrolled. The total is expected to top 1 million participants by 2034.
Grattan's report says the NDIS, designed as an insurance model to provide lifelong support, has failed to deliver its envisaged multi-tier coverage, clear and enforceable eligibility criteria and data-led resource allocation. Most of the heavy lifting to get the NDIS back on track remains to be done, it says.
More bold policy decisions are needed. Reigning in growth, establishing alternative supports for disabled Australians whose needs are not currently being met and implementing a more consistent and equitable NDIS are top priorities. Change to audit, services. With a 23% annual growth rate, the NDIS has been under intense pressure for all of Labor's first term in office.
Last year, laws designed to limit annual growth to 8% passed Parliament, and the government talked up an estimated $15 billion in savings from operational and structural reforms. State and territory governments are due to take over childhood autism services and other socalled foundational supports this year.
Just a decade old, the NDIS already costs more to run per year than aged care, $36 billion. Medicare, $32 billion. Federal hospital spending, $30 billion. And the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, $20 billion.
The scheme's internal actuary expects the growth rate to fall to 8.4% in 2025 to 26, then to 6.7% in 2026 to 27. After that, the growth rate will remain be-
Growth Challenges
By Tom McElroy, Canberra Bureau Chief
tween 7% and 8% annually. National health care system, the NDIS, has been under intense pressure for all of Labor's, agreed to move support services for children with mild autism and early developmental challenges back to the state and territory level.
Services will be provided through schools, childcare centres and other government settings. Grattan says the 8% growth target will be insufficient in the long term, even if it can be achieved, noting it would far exceed growth in other comparable national
programs.
It calls for NDIS Minister Amanda Rishworth to work with the disability community to design a fit-for-purpose list of authorised support services covered by the scheme to give participants choice and flexibility. Under rules passed last year, sex work, tarot card reading, yoga classes and cuddle therapy were banned from NDIS plans. Approved items include assistance animals, mobility supports, transport, help for some household tasks, behavioural supports, prostheses and nursing care.
WhatsUp ABC Q+A
A recent ABC episode of Q+A neglected a major issue that raises questions on the political and media value placed on disability.
The panel comprised an array of politicians and commentators, including Shadow Assistant Minister for the NDIS Hollie Hughes and Minister for Health Mark Butler.
However, the discussion completely ignored 2 of the most significant aspects of their respective portfolios. None of the questioners nor host Patricia Karvelas made any inquiries into the welfare of either people with disabilities or with mental health issues.
This raises questions about the agenda ABC sought to set for its flagship program.
Of course, some may argue that panellists could only answer questions brought to them. But it would not have been the first time a Q+A host threw a spanner in the works and started up a debate of their own.
There remain questions around why, when Q+A encourages audiences to either join the audience or send in their questions, not one audience member wanted to ask the Shadow Minister for the NDIS about one of the key issues in her portfolio.
The lack of discussion on disability is even more astounding given the Shadow Minister’s own experiences as a mother of a son with severe autism. In February, the Shadow Minister said she felt “sick for weeks” and was “nervous” about the outcome of her son’s NDIS review.
Making a speech to parliament (ironically without closed captions or an accessible
transcript), Hughes attacked the government’s response to the number of participants in the NDIS and the providers’ behaviour.
“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, people, when we know more people with disabilities (who are often on the lower end of the cost of the living spectrum), are being punished by the government”, Hughes said.
The Shadow Minister made no further suggestions as to improving the everyday lives of people with disabilities.
In March, Hughes posted an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald where she was quoted questioning the number of children with severe disabilities in Australia.
“There is no way 9% of children [between ages 5 to 7] have a permanent and lifelong disability”, Hughes said. She went further to suggest parents should foot the bill for children’s disability needs and that parents were prioritising lifestyle choices and extracurricular activities over the needs of their children.
“Before the NDIS, everyone put their hands in their pockets,” said Hughes. Given Hughes’ previous admission that her son is an NDIS participant, Q+A host Patricia Karvelas could have asked Hughes whether she was prepared to do the same.
The Liberal Party has released a policy document that appeared to advocate for the individualised supports promoted by the NDIS.
“People living with a disability should have tailored strategies to support their specific needs”, the document stated. The document argued that the govern-
Questions Remain
ment aimed to provide practical support to help those living with a disability “overcome barriers” and enable them to find and keep employment.
Given the mixed messaging between the Liberal Party’s words and actions and propensity for disabling rhetoric, it is even more questionable as to why nothing on the topic of disability or the NDIS was raised during the Shadow Minister’s time on the Q+A panel.
By Melissa Marsden—Women’s Agenda
changes to the NDIS should the Coalition win the next election) should have been addressed.
The disregard for the impact of the erosion of the NDIS and broader disability rights shows both sides of politics do not see disability as an election issue. That there were no questions from the audience on the topic of the NDIS is interesting, given the Q&A call out for questions the week.
As the election looms, it is clear people with disabilities will continue to be silenced by politicians and media alike.
By further restricting who can be an NDIS provider and restricting the types of support people with disabilities can receive, both the government and the opposition are making NDIS participants more vulnerable and dependent. That nothing was mentioned at all raises questions about the perception of disability in the media.
With both Hughes and the Minister for Health on the panel, the impact of these comments on current (and potential
Melissa Marsden is a freelance journalist and PhD candidate at Curtin University. You can follow Melissa on Twitter @MelMarsden96, on Bluesky @melissamarsdenphd or via Melissa’s website, Framing the Narrative.
WhatsUp Raiser II
Effortless, Safe, and Convenient
Accidents happen, but when someone falls, the process of helping them back up doesn’t have to be a struggle. Introducing the Raizer II Lifting Chair – the perfect solution for caregivers, healthcare providers, and anyone looking to ensure safe, efficient, and comfortable fall assistance.
At Friendlies Mobility, we understand the challenges faced by those helping people who have fallen. That’s why we offer the Raizer II, a mobile lifting chair designed to take the strain out of lifting. With just a push of a button, the Raizer II helps you lift the fallen person back to a seated position with minimal effort, all without any heavy lifting or risk of injury to the assistant.
Why Choose the Raizer II Lifting Chair?
• Minimal Physical Strain: Traditional lifting methods can cause physical strain on the person assisting. The Raizer II eliminates this risk by allowing a single caregiver to easily lift someone with little physical exertion. The process is simple, quick, and safe.
• Intuitive and Easy to Use: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Raizer II is assembled under a fallen person in just a few minutes. It’s equipped with intuitive sound and LED indicators to guide you through the setup process, ensuring proper assembly every time.
• Safety First: The Raizer II comes with built-in safety belts that secure the person being assisted, providing comfort and stability during the lifting process. You can also adjust the placement of these belts for enhanced support.
• Portable and Hygienic: With its improved carry bag and trolley, the Raizer
II is easy to transport and store. Plus, the seat belt (only 1 seatbelt) is removable and washable, ensuring hygiene is always maintained.
Maintenance Made Simple
A service reminder and battery level indicator take the guesswork out of keeping the Raizer II in top working condition. It’s designed for long-lasting performance with minimal effort required from you.
Key Specifications
• Max Lifting Capacity: 150kg
• Lifting Time: 20-30 seconds
Ideal for Any Environment
Whether you’re a caregiver at home, a healthcare professional in a hospital, or a member of a rehabilitation team, the Raizer II is the perfect tool to ensure that falls are handled efficiently and safely. Its thoughtful design allows for a comfortable, worry-free lift every time –all while reducing strain on the helper.
At Friendlies Mobility, we’re committed to providing products that enhance the safety, comfort, and quality of life for both caregivers and those being assisted. The Raizer II Lifting Chair is just one of the ways we’re revolutionizing fall assistance.
Don’t let lifting be a challenge. Make the right choice for your loved ones or patients today with the Raizer II Lifting Chair. Contact us at Friendlies Mobility to learn more or place your order. Let’s make every lift easier, safer, and more efficient with Raizer II.
Lifting Chair
By Friendlies Mobility Toowoomba
WhatsUp Profile
For many, sport is just a game. For Beau Vernon, it has been a lifeline, a platform, and now a purpose. A former Australian Rules footballer and wheelchair rugby player, Beau’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and an unshakable belief in the power of accessible sport to transform lives. Beau’s journey in sport has taken him from competing at the highest level to mentoring and coaching others, ensuring that no one is excluded from the game. Now, as a Sport4All Inclusion Coach, he’s bringing that passion to
communities across Australia, helping clubs, schools, and organisations create environments where everyone has a place in sport.
In 2012, Beau’s life changed in an instant when a footballing accident left him with a spinal cord injury. But where some might have seen an ending, Beau saw an opportunity to return to the sport he loved in a new capacity.
“Sport has always been a massive part of my life,” he shares. “After my injury, I
Beau Vernon
realised how powerful it is not just for physical activity, but for belonging, purpose, and mental wellbeing. That’s why I want to make sure everyone, no matter their circumstances, has the chance to experience accessible sport.”
His determination led him to wheelchair rugby, where he competed at an elite level, representing Australia and winning a bronze medal with the Steelers at the 2024 Paralympics. His experience reinforced a belief that had been growing ever since his injury, that sport should be accessible and inclusive for everyone. Beau’s work now extends far beyond the elite sporting stage. In his role as an Inclusion Coach with Sport4All, he helps sports clubs, schools, and local organisations break down barriers and create welcoming spaces for people of all abilities. “A lot of the time, it’s just about education and mindset,” Beau explains. “Most people want to be inclusive, they just don’t always know where to start. Sport4All gives them the tools and confidence to make it happen, making accessible sport a reality.” Through practical support and real-world insights, Beau is helping clubs and schools build inclusive programs, adapt facilities, and shift attitudes towards accessible sport. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he says. “Small changes, like better communication, flexible coaching, and simple modifications, can make a massive difference.”
As an athlete, coach, and advocate, Beau leads by example – showing that inclusion isn’t just about policies or infrastructure, but a mindset that starts with people.
“I’ve seen firsthand what happens when sport is made truly accessible,” he says.
“You see kids light up when they realise they belong. You see clubs grow because they’re welcoming more people into their community. You see the power of accessible sport to bring people together.”
His message is clear: inclusion isn’t just about accessibility, it’s about opportunity. Through his work with Sport4All, he’s ensuring that more people than ever get that opportunity, whether on the field, in the coaching box, or in the stands.
For Beau, the journey is far from over. With Sport4All expanding its impact, he’s excited about the future of accessible sport in Australia.
“We’re just getting started,” he says. “There’s still so much to do, but seeing the change already happening, seeing more clubs and schools embracing inclusion gives me so much hope for the future.”
As he continues his work, one thing remains certain: Beau Vernon is breaking barriers not just for himself, but for the countless others who will follow in his path.
WhatsUp Awards
The Business disABILITY Awards 2025, is set to showcase some of Queensland’s best talent, with Tony Dee Music opening, keynote speaker, Michael Crossland, and Fibonacci Band ending the night on a high.
Michael Crossland
Michael has been a fighter since birth, defying the odds of surviving not only a rare form of life-threatening cancer, but being the sole survivor of a horrific cancer drug trial. His battle continues to this very day, having spent nearly ¼ of his life in hospital. Michael is a true fighter, and despite only being told what he could not do, he continually shows the world absolutely everything that he can accomplish.
Raw, real and truly life changing, Michael’s story will undoubtedly bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your heart, as he teaches the keys to success, the importance of embracing change and the mindset needed to achieve your goals. Once you hear him
speak, you will have a renewed perspective on life.
Despite spending nearly a quarter of his life in hospital, he has forged a highly successful career in the corporate world, represented Australia in his chosen sport and featured regularly across all forms of media. He also runs a school and orphanage in Haiti and has been presented with the Australia Day Ambassador role for 7 consecutive years.
The award-winning documentary on his life, by ABC’s Australian Story, has been viewed by over 4 million people, and in 2016 he released his first tell-all autobiography, which is now a best seller across 6 different countries. In June 2017 he featured on MTVs funny show ridiculousness in the USA with over 3 million viewers and was one of the queens baton bearers for the 2018 commonwealth games! If that’s not enough a recent video of him speaking in LA has been viewed by more than 51 million people.
Disability Support Services, Advocacy and the NDIS will be the subjects of two panel discussions to feature on Helping Hands – a national TV program which is broadcast across the Nine Network every Saturday and Sunday, and on demand at 9Now.
The discussions are part of a fourepisode series on Ability and Enablement which has been curated to educate and inform all Australians about the disability sector in Australia.
The panellists in this series are Paralympian, Paris 2024 Silver Medallist and QANTAS Ambassador, Jamieson Leeson, Disability Advocate and Advisor, Dr. Louise Gosbell, and the CEO of Australian Operations at Tender Loving Care Disability Services, Laura Cowell.
Each of the panellists speak openly and honestly in the discussions, share from their own unique perspectives and experiences, and collectively empower viewers to better understand complexities within and around the disability sector in Australia.
By Laura Cowell
ed by disability, should be easily accessible and must be ongoing.
“There is so much we can all learn from listening to people with lived experience,” says Richard. “I was thrilled when our panellists, who are all leaders in their field, agreed to contribute to our panel discussions.”
The panel discussions will also be adapted into curriculum-aligned education resources to be distributed to over 500 schools as part of the Helping Hands program.
“We want to see generational change take place in conversations around the disability sector in Australia,” says Richard, who prefers to focus on the ability and enablement of all Australians.
Executive Producer of Helping Hands, Richard Attieh, says a national conversation with all Australians, especially with people who are not directly impact-
“The Helping Hands education resources allow our conversations today to also make a generational impact in 15-20 years’ time.“
“And that is very exciting.”
WhatsUp Scam Messages
Scammers are pretending to be from Services Australia, Centrelink, myGov or the NDIS.
These scammers may contact you and ask you to update your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or Centrelink details.
They’re sending text messages and emails that say:
• you have new NDIS or Centrelink notifications waiting in your myGov Inbox
• you should update your details or your payments will stop
• there are issues with linking NDIS to your myGov account
• you have a new plan in your NDIS portal or there are payments waiting.
The link will take you to a fake myGov website. This is a phishing scam. Services Australia won’t send you a link to sign in to your myGov or Centrelink online account.
Never click on a link in an email or text message to sign in to myGov or your Centrelink online account. Always sign in to myGov by entering my.gov.au into a secure internet browser, or using the official myGov app.
These scam websites will often ask for your:
• myGov username and password
• personal details, such as your name, address and date of birth
• Centrelink Customer Reference Number, Medicare card details or NDIS account details
• copies of your identity documents
• banking information, such as your credit card details or BSB and account number.
This is how scammers steal your money and identity.
If you get NDIS payments and have received a scam message, call the NDIS Fraud Reporting and Scams Helpline on 1800 650 717.
To report a scam email related to myGov or Services Australia, including Centrelink, Medicare, or Child Support, reportascam@servicesaustralia.gov.au
The scam messages may look like this example:
If your identity has been stolen
Identity crime is when someone gets access to your personal information to steal money or gain other benefits. Stolen personal information can be physical or digital and often includes:
• Identity documents
• Medicare cards
• utility bills
• insurance renewals
• medical records.
You may experience identity theft in any of the following situations:
• your digital personal information is stolen after someone accesses your online services, like an email, banking account or Centrelink online account
• your digital personal information is exposed or illegally sold due to a third party data breach
• your physical identity documents or personal information is stolen from your wallet, letterbox or rubbish.
Scamwatch
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has set up the National Anti-Scam Centre to coordinate government, law enforcement and the private sector to combat scams. They run Scamwatch who provide information on how to recognise, avoid and report all scams.
IDCARE
IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They help people who’ve had their identity information misused or compromised.
Australian Cyber Security Centre
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has information on protecting yourself from cyber security threats.
Australian Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have information to help you identify and report tax scams on their scams, cyber safety and identity protection page.
WhatsUp Tribute
Mununjali (Beaudesert) and Wangerriburra (Mount Tamborine) man, Wayne Coolwell was never sure how he ended up working in media, but there is no doubt that he left his mark on the Australia media landscape.
(07) 4659 5662
Born in Brisbane, Wayne lived in a tin shack out in the bush at Victoria Point where he would go crabbing with his grandfather regularly who was a big influence on his life.
Wayne then moved to Aspley where we went to school together and played AFL with the Aspley Hornets. Wayne was a natural footballer and beautiful to watch. His love of photography started in the late 1960s after he found his mother’s stash of National Geographic magazines. What Wayne saw in those pages, inspired him to get his own box brownie camera a number of years later. His love of photography saw him go on to study it at the Seven Hills College of Art (now the Queensland College of Art and Design) in the mid 1970s. While Wayne didn’t enjoy the theory side of the art form, he very much enjoyed the practical. While he never regarded himself as a great photographer, he felt like it was a part of him, and enjoyed the magic of developing the image, not knowing what might appear.
In 1979, Wayne moved to London where he worked for a marketing magazine and took the opportunity to visit Europe where he continued photographing his experiences. When he returned to Brisbane, he eventually found his way into the media. First working for Queensland newspapers, then moving to the ABC as a trainee in 1984. While he started his training in news and current affairs, he would later move to ABC Sports where
he would become well known for his sports broadcasting.
During his time in ABC Sport, Wayne helped set up the Darwin office and became the first Aboriginal sports commentator at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. In 1990, Wayne became the inaugural presenter of ABC Radio’s national Indigenous programme, Speaking Out, which continues to broadcast weekly and will celebrate its 35th year on air later this year.
“I never saw myself as somebody who was special or anything like that. I just loved my job. Loved communicating. Loved telling a story and I hope that reached a lot of people”.
Wayne Coolwell, State Library of Queensland oral history, 2023
Wayne Coolwell
By Rhianna Patrick and Steven Paull
During his time at Speaking Out, Wayne took the programme on the road for two weeks to the U.S and Canada during the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People, to report on how other indigenous groups were marking the year. The 1990s were an incredibly busy time for Wayne between his ABC Radio and Television commitments, MC work for community and corporate events and writing his first book, My Kind of People: Achievement, Identity and Aboriginality. Published through UQP, the writing of the book took Wayne across the world. Originally he’d been asked to write
about Aboriginal sporting greats but Wayne wanted to go beyond that and focus on Aboriginal people making a contribution to the country in various ways that wasn’t just limited to sport. The book ended up including Mark Ella who was in Italy playing rugby union at the time, emerging musician Archie Roach, budding journalist Stan Grant, and young artist Gordon Bennett who’d won the Moët & Chandon Australian Art Fellowship which had taken him to France.
In the preface of the book, Wayne tells a story of falling out of a coconut tree and injuring his leg in Fiji. He was then picked up by a driver who’d come direct from a nightclub who promptly fell asleep at the wheel while taking Wayne to the airport so he could catch his flight back to Australia.
After 15 years with the national broadcaster, Wayne left the ABC in 1999 with one of his last work commitments coanchoring the ABC coverage of the State Funeral for former Senator, Neville Bonner. In his post ABC life, Wayne went on to set up a restaurant and catering company, the Brisbane AFL team, Murri Mavericks, Indigenous Sports Queensland, the John Newfong Media Prize, The Centre For Aboriginal Independence And Enterprise (CAIE), and Chair the National Indigenous Sports Foundation.
Wayne was still taking photographs up until quite recently, and his photographic archive has been acquired by the State Library of Queensland.
Wayne was a great man, full of talent and passion in all things that he undertook. I consider myself fortunate to have had Wayne as my friend. Steven
WhatsUp In May
2025 Awards Dinner
Date: Saturday, 17 May 2025
Time: 6:30pm - 11:30pm
Venue: Edmund Rice Cultural Centre, St Marys College, Newtown
Dress Code: Black tie
Ticket Prices:
Individual: $160 incl. GST
Buy a table of 10: $1600 incl. GST
Award Entrant (1 person per entry): $90
Donate Pay it Forward individual: $160 incl. GST
Each ticket includes a two-course meal, wine on the table, and a welcome drink.
Visit Toowoomba Region
A brand new website to showcase your events will be launching soon. This website will be modern, user friendly and specifically designed to support events and tourism in the Toowoomba Region.
All new events can be added via the Australian Data Warehouse (ATDW) website https://www.atdw.com.au/listing-with-atdw/
Adding events via ATDW is free and will allow for your events to be promoted on not only our site, but on other tourism websites in Queensland.
102.7 FM Community Radio Station
Free event broadcasts are available to local Community Groups phone 4638 4171
WhatsUp Community
WhatsUp Sponsors
WhatsUp Executive Team
STEVEN
PAULL President
COURTNEY CARROLL Editor
JESS WRIGHT
Secretary
ANN PAULL Treasurer
PUBLISHER: Disability Media Association Inc (Australia)
TELEPHONE: (07) 4632 9559
OFFICE: Paul Myatt Community Centre 11-15 Alexander Street Toowoomba (open Monday to Friday 9:00am-3:00 pm)
E-MAIL: steven@bigdog.au
MANAGEMENT BOARD: Steven Paull (President) Courtney Carroll (Editor) Jess Wright (Secretary) Ann Paull (Treasurer)
CONTRIBUTORS: Bronwyn Herbertson, Sharon Boyce, Aidan Wilcock, Dean Gill, Jess Wright, Steven Paull and many others.
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WhatsUp
www.mycommunitydirectory.com.au
With Darryl Bates
Peer support programs run under the Red Frogs Australia banner across Toowoomba will benefit from funds raised at the 31st Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, which will be held at Rumours International on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. Toowoomba Region Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald said the Red Frogs organisation had built a trusted reputation as the largest harm minimisation and early intervention service supporting young people across Australia, with similar programs also operating overseas.
“The Red Frogs volunteers have shown compassion and understanding in their mission to support young people’s wellbeing while having a positive influence on their lives through various education campaigns,” Mayor McDonald said.
www.whatsupindisability.org
“Apart from handing out their familiar namesake lollies, the Red Frogs offer positive peer role model information, pre -Schoolies seminars plus leadership and life training education to high school students, school leavers, university students and at skateboard clinics and competitions, youth music festivals and sporting events.
“Helping our young people make positive choices is an important lesson that needs emphasising among their peers and the wider community, especially in a world where excessive consumption is all too often seen as the norm.
Red Frogs Australia was founded in 1997 by Andy Gourley, a youth pastor at Brisbane’s Citipointe Church who saw the need for support services at the Gold Coast schoolies event in 1997. Mr Gourley was the guest speaker at the 2016 Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.
To contribute to the next edition please send your article to steven@bigdog.au
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