The Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service of South Australia (DACSSA) says the Federal Budget confirms Australia is entering one of the largest disability reform transitions in decades, but warns independent advocacy and safeguard systems are not being funded at a level proportionate to the scale of reform risk.

DACSSA welcomed continued funding for Disability Representative Organisations and the extension of supplementary NDIS Appeals funding of $14.7 million over two years.

However, DACSSA said the scale of advocacy investment remains disproportionate to the scale of reform risk.

Nationally, the supplementary appeals funding equates to only a few dollars per Australian with disability over two years during one of the largest disability reform transitions in Australian history.

DACSSA CEO Jenny Karavolos said large-scale reform and transition would increase the need for independent advocacy, appeals support and rights protection — not reduce it.

“Australia is undertaking one of the largest disability reform transitions in decades, with projected savings measured in the tens of billions of dollars,” Ms Karavolos said. “Yet advocacy and appeals support are still being measured in only a few dollars per person with disability.”

“We are rebuilding systems after years of fragmentation and underinvestment. That will take time,” Ms Karavolos said. “People with disability should not bear the risk while replacement systems mature.”

DACSSA said the Budget has begun funding alternative systems and pathways while simultaneously banking significant projected NDIS savings.

The organisation said reform success must ultimately be measured by whether people experience better outcomes and safer transitions — not simply by reductions in scheme numbers.

“The central question is whether safeguards and replacement supports are being built at the pace required to safely support people through reform,” Ms Karavolos said.

DACSSA said people with disability and families already struggle to navigate fragmented and disconnected systems.

“We see the human impact of system complexity every day,” Ms Karavolos said. “We see appeals, gaps in support, unsafe transitions, exclusion, confusion, rights failures and people being bounced between systems. With reform proceeding, safeguards must scale with it.”

DACSSA said Budget reform increases the need for independent advocacy — but does not fund it at the scale required.

“If government is redesigning access, eligibility, appeals, foundational supports, provider registration and mainstream pathways, independent advocacy is not optional infrastructure,” Ms Karavolos said. “It is the harm-prevention mechanism.”

DACSSA said the Disability Royal Commission repeatedly identified advocacy, safeguards, independent support and voice as critical protections against abuse, neglect and exclusion.

“The Royal Commission showed what happens when people with disability are left without strong safeguards, accountability and independent support,” Ms Karavolos said. “Reform cannot repeat those mistakes.”

DACSSA warned that governments are increasingly relying on mainstream and foundational systems to replace NDIS supports while many of those systems are still being rebuilt.

“Large-scale reform will increase the need for advocacy and rights protection — not reduce it,” Ms Karavolos said. “Independent advocacy is often the safeguard preventing people from falling through gaps during major system transition.”

DACSSA also expressed concern regarding reported reductions to disability-related school supports and student wellbeing measures, warning that reduced investment in education and early supports risks undermining long-term participation, employment and social outcomes.

“The benchmark for reform must be higher than what existed before the NDIS,” Ms Karavolos said. “Australia cannot simply return people to systems already identified as fragmented, inconsistent and not fit for purpose.”

DACSSA is calling for:

• increased investment in independent disability advocacy
• recognition of advocacy as core safeguard infrastructure
• no-harm transition supports
• real-time escalation and resolution pathways
• rights protection during reform
• system navigation support for people and families
• independent oversight, accountability and transparency

“If reform is proceeding before replacement systems are fully ready, governments must ensure people are protected from harm during transition,” Ms Karavolos said.

ENDS

About Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service of South Australia Inc (DACSSA): DACSSA is a respectful, client-focused organisation that provides free and independent individual and systemic advocacy for South Australians with disabilities. For more information about DACSSA go to: https://dacssa.org.au/ and connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Media enquiries:

DACSSA, CEO jenny.k@dacssa.org.au