Dietitians Australia welcomes the news that an 8-week extension has been granted to the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 and continues to urge the government to protect people with disability from losing access to essential dietitian support.
Dietitians Australia lodged a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee and joined Allied Health Professions Australia in calling for the proposed NDIS reform bill to be amended before it passes and to allow more time for consultation.
“Dietitians play a critical role for thousands of NDIS participants, supporting the most fundamental activities of daily living, eating and drinking, and their capacity to do so safely and adequately,” Dietitians Australia President Dr Fiona Willer said.
The proposed amendments will see capacity-building therapy budgets for NDIS participants slashed by 10 per cent, and maximum-intensity caps placed on dietitian therapy supports from October 2026.
These changes will limit the number of hours an Accredited Practising Dietitian can provide medical nutrition therapy and dietetic care, despite evidence that functional feeding and hydration needs for people with disability are often complex and lifelong.
“The proposed reforms are out of step with the reality of delivering complex evidence-based care, and far too important to be rushed through without thoroughly examining the impact these cost containment measures will have on people with disability,” Dr Willer said.
“This is an opportunity to continue fighting hard to maintain positive functional outcomes for participants, enable an efficient NDIS, and ultimately improve the sustainability of the scheme.”
The Annual Pricing Review report released this week revealed NDIS participants place a high value on maintaining access to dietitians, and their relationships with their current providers, many of whom are small business owners.
Yet the pricing decision to further reduce fees for Accredited Practising Dietitians by $10 per hour that comes into effect on 1 July 2026 poses a serious risk to providers’ ability to continue to offer nutrition and dietetic support that many people with disability rely on.
“This pricing decision puts people with disability at significant risk of losing their access to vital nutrition support provided by dietitians,” Dr Willer said.
“Across the country, dietitians are already being forced to reduce their disability support caseloads, limit travel, and make difficult decisions about the sustainability of their services, particularly in rural and remote communities.
“As a direct result of this decision, the foundational principles of choice and control for NDIS participants are shaken to the core.
“Safeguarding is vital to ensure people with disability receive the nutrition and foundational support they need and deserve.”
Dietitians Australia continues to support a process of open and transparent consultation and welcomes the opportunity to make meaningful contributions over the next eight weeks to ensure that NDIS participants will retain access to foundational supports which includes nutrition and dietetic care.
