Hey Swifty fam 👋
This week’s NDIS scene was wild. Think: policy shake-ups, site shutdowns, rescue cash — and oh yeah, Taylor Swift dropped her album like it’s the soundtrack to every provider’s meltdown 😅
Between the new rules and the emotional rollercoaster, we’ve got everything from government drama to pop-culture perfection.
💅 Stay bold, stay bratty, and scroll on — here’s your easy-read wrap of what’s actually going down in the NDIS (and beyond).
☕ Fresh Tea from the Scheme
🚫 Transition period ends — The 12-month grace window for adjusting to the updated NDIS support lists ended on 2 Oct 2025. From now on, using NDIS funds for supports not on the list may trigger a 💸 debt.
But the NDIA says they’ll keep it fair with manual checks, payment plans & a human approach 👏
💻 Improvements site shutting down — The temporary NDIS Improvements website is retiring. From late September it’ll redirect to the main site, and by 9 Oct 2025, it’s gone for good. 🚪
📎 All tools + resources about the new computer system are moving to the main NDIS site — time to update those bookmarks! 🔖
🚗 Recurring transport support extended — Good news for your wallet! 💰
The government’s extended recurring transport payments so they can continue without a new claim until 2 Oct 2025.
More breathing room before the new claim rules hit 🫶
🏥 $4.4 million to rescue Bedford — The federal government dropped $4.4 million to keep disability provider Bedford running while a sale is sorted.
Minister Mark Butler says poor management caused the crisis and wants a new operator to take the reins 🪙
👶 Thriving Kids backlash — Critics are calling out the federal Thriving Kids program as ableist. 😬
They say it could create a two-tier system by shifting autistic kids off the NDIS.
Advocates are urging the program to complement — not replace — existing supports 💪
📊 NDIA data drop — As of end August 2025, there are 748,579 participants in the scheme.
🧾 NDIA spent $4.10 billion on supports that month — averaging $65,500 per participant.
Big numbers, big impact 💥
📘 New NDIA corporate plan — The 2025–26 plan introduces tougher fraud controls, new performance measures, and a focus on empowering First Nations communities 🌿
It’s giving ✨integrity and accountability✨ vibes.
🤝 States vs Canberra: The Ongoing Drama
🩺 New South Wales (NSW) — Still in a hospital traffic jam 🚧
🏥 377 aged-care patients and 86 NDIS participants are stuck waiting for placements.
Translation: no one’s moving, everyone’s fuming 😤
🌅 South Australia (SA) — Making moves 💪
Added 120 “step-down” beds to ease hospital pressure.
Also in the spotlight thanks to the Bedford $4.4M bailout — it’s giving “restructure energy.” 🫠
💰 Western Australia (WA) — Signed a new NDIS funding deal ✍️
Includes a Community Advisory Council to give locals more say.
Meanwhile, other states are side-eyeing Canberra like “where’s our clarity?” 👀
🌴 Queensland (QLD) — Big on co-design and actually listening 👂
Rolling out the Disability Stakeholder Engagement & Co-Design Strategy, inviting participants to help shape reforms.
🎭 Victoria (VIC) — Watching closely 👀
Focused on freeing up hospital beds and pushing for more NDIS + aged-care placements.
They’re not loud yet… but you can feel a policy clapback brewing ☕
🍃 Tasmania (TAS) — Quiet achiever energy 🌊
Following the national changes, gently advocating for more community care options.
Island life, but make it reform-ready. 🌈
🏛️ Australian Capital Territory (ACT) — Tiny but mighty 🧠
Keeping watch on reforms and calling for smarter hospital discharge planning.
They’re all about that system flow life 🌀
🌞 Northern Territory (NT) — Party incoming 🎉
Hosting the Disability Inclusion Awards on 9 Oct, but also juggling the MS Society crisis.
They’re celebrating while firefighting 🔥 — classic NDIS energy.
The mics were hot 🔥 and the convos? Even hotter.
This week I sat down with two absolute legends — Belinda Toohey from including you and Brett Sams, behaviour support practitioner and all-round legend in the space.
With Belinda, we talked straight-up smack about institutions vs innovation and what real choice and control should look like in today’s NDIS. From support coordination to building peer communities that actually work, she kept it raw and real. 💬
Then came Brett, who took us deep into the world of self-care in the sector — how he got here, what’s changing, and why looking after yourself is non-negotiable if you want to stay in the game. 🧠
These two brought truth bombs, good laughs, and the kind of heart that reminds you why you started in this space. 💖
🫶 Final word
Alright, Swifty fam — it’s messy, it’s wild, but it’s also moving. The NDIS is shaking up hard right now, from policy shifts to provider dramas. Add Taylor’s album drop to your weekend playlist, because sometimes you gotta dance while you protest.
Wanna keep this no-fluff energy going? Join the SwiftyMatchy waiting list to be first in line for our bold, sassy matching platform. We’re not just watching changes — we’re helping you ride them.
Until next time — may your rosters be tight, your supports solid, and your playlists pure Showgirl magic 💚🎧
Stay bratty, stay bold 💋
— Team SwiftyMatchy
💌 Email Sarah – the Swifty you didn’t know you needed for your unfiltered NDIS truth bombs → [email protected]