Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) is proud to stand with our fellow Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) in endorsing the joint statement released on 21 August 2025 in response to the Federal Government’s recent announcements about the NDIS.

The principle of “nothing about us, without us” must be at the heart of every reform and decision that affects people with disability. While we welcome the Government’s recognition of this principle, we share the disappointment of the disability community that Wednesday’s announcements came as a surprise to those most directly impacted. People with disability and their representative organisations must be meaningfully engaged from the outset, not as an afterthought.

DANA and our fellow DROs welcome investment in supports for children with developmental delay and autism. However, further clarity is urgently needed on the scope, timelines, and how these reforms fit within the broader framework of Foundational Supports recommended by the NDIS Review. These supports, including peer support, accessible information, and self-advocacy, are critical for the 4.8 million Australians with disability who are not participants in the NDIS.

We urge Minister Butler to follow through on his assurance that children will not be diverted or removed from the NDIS before an alternative, sustainable, and community-accepted system is fully established.  This safeguard is vital, and we look forward to working constructively with the government to ensure reforms deliver genuine, lasting benefits for all people with disability.

DANA remains committed to collaborating with the government and our sector partners to co-design reforms that are inclusive, effective, and grounded in the lived experience of people with disability. We join with our fellow DROs in urging the government to uphold its commitment to co-design and consultation, ensuring reforms strengthen, rather than weaken, Australia’s disability support ecosystem.

Together with our peers, we reiterate that lasting reform can only succeed when it is done with, and not for, people with disability.

Read the full joint statement here.