The AASW is deeply concerned about three significant developments within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that create a risk to participant outcomes, the sustainability of the scheme, and the integrity of social work practice.

Section 33 Budget Period Changes

The recent implementation of Section 33 funding periods introduces constraints on when participants can access their budgets. The new NDIS legislation introduces a funding period, or instalment, that must be set at 12 months or less for every plan. The agency is free to choose any funding period below that ceiling, effectively rationing funds for participants.
Participants’ budgets will be released in predetermined stages, regardless of fluctuating levels of need or changing life circumstances.

AASW’s CEO Cindy Smith said “This change undermines the principle of participant choice and control. It disregards the reality of life with a disability, which is rarely predictable or linear.”

Many social workers are reporting that this change is already impacting participants – especially those with complex needs, or who experience a crisis, causing them to delay or miss crucial therapy appointments, and coordination services due to the inflexible release of their funds.

Oversights in Annual Pricing Review

The recently released Annual Pricing Review 2024–2025 is another cause for serious concern. The NDIA’s pricing benchmark for social workers lists Medicare (MBS) and Private Health Insurance (PHI) rates for Social Workers as “N/A.” This is inaccurate. Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) are funded through Medicare and are included under many private health insurance policies.

Also of concern is that, despite rising operating costs and years without appropriate indexation, therapy support rates appear set to decrease, while Support Coordination (SC) and Specialist Support Coordination (SSC) remain stagnant with no CPI-linked increase in sight.

The omission of social work from key funding benchmarks and failure to include appropriate cost indexation may lead to less social workers in the system and this will impact directly on participant outcomes” said Cindy Smith

Travel Caps Undermine Access Across the Entire System

The proposed travel restrictions under the pricing review also pose risks to therapeutic relationships and deny participants access to their preferred and most appropriate providers. The proposed cap on travel billing, likely to be reintroduced in the forthcoming price guide ignores the realities not just of rural and remote areas, but metropolitan regions as well.

Some participants, including those in outer metropolitan areas or with complex needs, are only able to engage with expert clinicians who might travel over an hour to deliver therapy. Currently, social workers can claim 30 minutes each way. Under the proposed caps, travel claims would be cut to 30 minutes total, meaning practitioners could be left out of pocket for 50+ minutes of travel time per session.

Cindy Smith said “Therapeutic relationships aren’t built on postcode proximity. They’re built on trust, rapport, and continuity. The NDIA is treating this as a rural issue — but these restrictions are just as damaging in metropolitan areas, where travel across suburbs can still take hours. Metropolitan clinicians and participants will suffer if this is overlooked.”

A Call for Urgent Action

The AASW is calling on the NDIA to:

• Immediately review and rectify the inaccurate classification of social work under MBS and PHI in its pricing benchmarks
• Index all support item prices annually, in line with CPI and actual business costs
• Reverse the travel time restrictions, recognising that equitable access to care is a challenge in both rural and metropolitan regions
• Engage meaningfully with the AASW and other professional bodies in future pricing and policy decisions.

We urge all stakeholders – participants, providers, peak bodies, and government agencies – to work together to uphold the core NDIS principles of choice, control, and equity.

For enquiries, please contact:
Matt Loads, Communications Lead
Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0403 011 174

About the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is Australia’s professional body for social workers. As well as representing and supporting social workers in their essential work, we set the benchmarks for professional education and practice in social work.