Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI) and Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) are standing with people with disabilities across Australia in support of Monday’s Safe, Fair and Forever NDIS rally at Parliament House.
AFI’s Head of Policy, Craig Wallace, will join other speakers at the rally to highlight the real impacts of upcoming NDIS changes and cuts to participant plans.
The Canberra rally, organized by Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association (ANPA) on behalf of the Nobody Worse Off Coalition, will take place at 1:00pm AEDT on Monday 27 October 2025 at Federation Mall, Parliament House Lawns.
*NOTE: MEDIA CONFERENCE*: As host jurisdiction AFI will also open an In Rally Media Conference from 2.30 – 3.00 pm AEDST on the rally site where local and national disability advocates + key organisers will provide media grabs & reactions.
This will be the only official media conference on site.
The event will give people with disabilities and their supporters the chance to be heard on proposed reforms, including changes to assessments, removal of certain supports, altered housing provisions, and reports of the possible introduction of standardised plans and algorithmic decision-making – drawing comparisons to the disastrous Robodebt scheme.
The rally will also shine a light on cuts to existing plans that are already affecting people with disabilities and their families.
WWDACT CEO Kat Reed said: “We are concerned that these new standardised assessment processes will not be fit for purpose for many women and gender-diverse people. They risk repeating old patterns of gender bias and under-representation in the NDIS. Assessments must be flexible, gender-specific, culturally safe, and trauma-informed.”
There is also the risk that the new arrangements will not work effectively for people with intellectual disabilities, as point-in-time assessments often fail to capture their ongoing and complex needs.
Concerns also extend to the new Thriving Kids program, which could lead to the exclusion of children with autism from the NDIS without ensuring alternative supports are in place and has the potential to reduce certainty, choice, and control for children and families.
AFI CEO Nick Lawler said the impact of cuts is already being felt in the ACT: “We are hearing from the community about widespread cuts to vital supports for Canberrans with disabilities.”
In May 2025, AFI conducted a snap survey to capture what is happening on the ground. Participants reported reduction and removal of essential support including therapy, support coordination, psychology, respite, and meal assistance. Examples include:
- “Weekly physical therapy was discontinued due to new provider qualification rules… Fully funded respite support was reduced, with individuals now required to pay co-payments.” – NDIS participant
- “My children’s NDIS plans were cut by half without explanation… We’ve lost all choice and control over their supports.” – Parent of two NDIS participants
- “Soft tissue therapy, gym support, and music therapy were removed, despite their clear benefits for my child’s wellbeing and development.” – Parent of a participant
Lawler said: “We call for an orderly reform process that ensures proper engagement with the ACT disability community and aligns any changes or reassessments with the timing, growth, and scope of new support systems. Disability reforms must leave no one behind.”
A summary of the May 2025 survey responses can be found here, and a video clip about the cuts at the following link: https://www.tiktok.com/@aficanberra/video/7563412292465855751?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
- Where: Parliament House Lawns, Canberra
- When: Monday 27 October 2025, 1:00–4:00pm;
- In rally Media Conference from 2.30pm
Organised by: The Nobody Worse Off Coalition
Media contacts
Craig Wallace Head of Policy AFI – 0477 200 755
Kat Reed, CEO WWDACT – 0468 324 695