On 20 August 2025, the Australian Government announced the membership of the NDIS Reform Advisory Committee (Committee). This marks a key step in implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review into the NDIS (NDIS Review).

The Committee was first announced in the 2024–25 Federal Budget and was a direct recommendation of the NDIS Review, which called for stronger involvement of people with disability in shaping the future of the NDIS. The Committee will play a central role in advising the Government as it undertakes significant reforms to the NDIS.

The Committee’s formation follows a suite of legislative and policy reforms aimed at restoring the NDIS to its original intent, placing people with disability at the heart of the Scheme while ensuring long-term sustainability. The framework for the reforms was introduced by the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Act 2024 (Cth), which commenced on 3 October 2024 and amended the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth).

The Committee is expected to:

• Provide strategic advice to the Disability Reform Ministerial Council and the Hon. Jenny McAllister, the Minister for the NDIS, on the implementation of the NDIS reforms
• Ensure people with disability are at the centre of decision-making processes.

The Committee is co-chaired by El Gibbs and Dougie Herd, and includes 11 members representing states, territories, and the broader disability community, including: Jeramy Hope (NSW), Nigel Webb (QLD), Carrie Clark (WA), Clare Waiss (TAS), Catherine McAlpine (VIC), Renee Heaton (ACT), Katharine Annear (SA), Annie Rily (NT), Kelly Treloar, Elvis Martin, and Sebastian Langdon-Macmillan (Community Representatives).

The Committee’s focus on embedding the voices of people with disability into reform processes reinforces the Government's broad shift towards co-design. Providers may need to show how they are incorporating participant voices into service planning, feedback mechanisms and governance.

Our team will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as the Committee’s work progresses. If you have any questions or would like to discuss how these reforms may impact your organisation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.