22/04/2026
Todayβs address by Mark Butler at the National Press Club highlights a growing concern that many in our community already feel every day, the gap between funding systems and real life outcomes for NDIS participants.
While funding frameworks continue to evolve, one key issue stands out: participants are not consistently receiving the social and community supports they need to live meaningful, connected lives.
But there is also a conversation we need to have as a sector.
Some providers have not consistently focused on participant goals and outcomes. When goals are not actively worked toward, participants can miss out on opportunities to build independence, confidence and real community connection.
For many people on the NDIS, support is not just about care, itβs about:
β’ Getting out into the community
β’ Building relationships and social confidence
β’ Working toward personal goals and independence
β’ Accessing activities that support mental wellbeing
β’ Creating meaningful, measurable progress
Mark Butlerβs speech reinforces what providers and participants have been saying for some time:
π There is a disconnect between funding, delivery, and lived outcomes.
When supports are not aligned to participant goals:
β’ Isolation increases
β’ Mental health declines
β’ Opportunities for growth are missed
β’ Participants are not progressing toward independence
β’ Families and carers carry additional pressure
Daily care is also impacted. Without a clear focus on goals, even simple routines like getting ready for the day, attending appointments, or participating in the community can lose their impact in building independence.
This is more than a policy issue, itβs a quality of life issue and a shared responsibility across the sector.
As conversations continue around reform, we must ensure funding, delivery and accountability all align with participant goals. Support should not just be provided, it should create outcomes.
Every participant deserves support that is:
β Goal focused
β Empowering
β Consistent
β Built around independence and community
β Leads to choice and control
Real support changes lives when it is aligned with what matters most to the participant.
