Mothers Set to Bear the Brunt of NDIS Changes

The federal government says its shake-up of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is about keeping the budget under control. But for families, carers and advocates, the reality feels different. Instead of relief, many are worried these changes will hollow out the support system parents have come to rely on — leaving mothers, in particular, to carry even more of the load at home.

What’s Changing

From 2027, children under 15 with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism will no longer be covered by the NDIS. Instead, they’ll be moved into a new $2 billion “Thriving Kids” program, co-funded by the states and territories.

Health Minister Mark Butler says this is about bringing growth in NDIS costs down from 8% a year to a “sustainable” 5–6%. But what this new program will actually look like is still unclear — and for many parents, especially in regional areas where therapy options are already scarce, the announcement has sparked anxiety rather than reassurance.

“We live in a small town. The NDIS has been the only way my son gets regular speech therapy. Without that funding, I honestly don’t know how we’ll manage — the closest private clinic is two hours away, and we can’t afford $180 a session.” – Mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism.

“Families don’t stop needing support when the NDIS pulls back — they just pay the price in exhaustion, stress and lost futures.”

The Whole Point of the NDIS

When the NDIS was created, the idea was simple: invest early, so children and families could build capacity and independence. That upfront support was meant to reduce the need for crisis care and lost opportunities down the track.

Early therapies aren’t a luxury — they can mean the difference between a child keeping up at school or slipping behind, between building independence or relying on higher levels of care later in life.

“My daughter has come so far with her occupational therapy — she can dress herself now, something we never thought possible two years ago. If that stops, I’m scared she’ll lose those gains. It feels like all our hard work could unravel.” – Parent of a 9-year-old girl with developmental delay.

“True equality won’t come from pushing more unpaid care onto families. It will come when women — especially mothers and carers — are at the heart of policy making, shaping systems that reflect the realities of care, rather than being forced to silently shoulder the cost of gaps in support.”

Who Really Pays?

On paper, the government might save money. But the unpaid work doesn’t disappear. It shifts — usually to women.

In Australia, women already do around 32 hours a week of unpaid care and household work, compared with 23 hours for men. For single mothers and those raising children with disability, that number can climb to 40 hours or more.

When therapies are cut, it’s most often mothers who reduce their paid hours or leave work altogether to step in. That means lost wages, lost super, and lost career momentum — sacrifices that ripple through families and futures.

“I had to quit my job when the waitlists got too long and we couldn’t get enough therapy through the NDIS. It wasn’t a choice. My son needs me, but I can’t help wondering what this means for our financial future.” – Single mother of two children with additional needs.

When the Safety Net Moves

Families who’ve built their routines around NDIS supports know how fragile stability can be. A child thriving in a mainstream classroom thanks to therapy could quickly fall behind if that support disappears. Parents may end up travelling hours to appointments or simply missing out if they can’t pay.

Advocates warn this isn’t an “edge case” — it’s exactly what happens when the safety net is pulled back.

“My eldest is autistic and copes by masking, but it takes everything out of her. She looks like she’s managing, so I worry she’ll be seen as not needing support. What people don’t see is the meltdowns when we get home. Foundational supports won’t cut it.” – Mother of an 11-year-old autistic girl.

“When therapies are cut, it’s mothers who step back from work, lose income, and carry the cost no one counts.”

What Other Countries Show Us

Other nations show that doing more, not less, pays off. In Sweden, disability supports are integrated into schools and health systems, so children don’t lose out because of funding changes. In the US, programs like the Early Start Denver Model prove that investing before age five can significantly reduce the need for costlier interventions later.

These systems succeed because they focus on prevention and continuity, not short-term savings. They support children and families early and consistently — instead of leaving parents to patch the gaps.

👉 For mothers already stretched thin, these changes raise a gut-level fear: if the NDIS steps back, who will step in? What was meant to be a shared national responsibility risks becoming another invisible job added to women’s already full plates.

True equality won’t come from pushing more unpaid care onto families. It will come when women — especially mothers and carers — are at the heart of policy making, shaping systems that reflect the realities of care, rather than being forced to silently shoulder the cost of gaps in support.