NDIS Boosts Work, Health for Aussies with Disabilities

0:00It's March 24th. Welcome to Sydney News Today, powered by AI. A new study shows that Australians on the National Disability Insurance Scheme see real gains in work and health after joining. Participants work nearly two hours more each week and earn an extra $76 every two weeks within four years. They also report much higher energy levels turning around a downward trend from before. This leads to fewer people relying on job-seeker payments and more shifting to the disability support pension, which helps those staying in the workforce. The Scheme, started in 2013, aims to boost economic and social participation for those with severe disabilities. People often enter the NDIS at a tough time, with falling health, less work, and heavier dependence on income support. Governments worry about its rising costs, now at $48 billion a year, and have cap growth targets at 5-6%. Researchers use long-term data from the Hill to Survey, tracking folks for 10 years before

1:00and four after joining. Workforce participation jumps 5 percentage points, matching levels from a decade earlier, mainly driven by better vitality scores. While these links are clear, experts note the Scheme, likely aids the turnaround through its services, even if it doesn't prove direct cause. As costs stabilize, the focus stays on helping those who need it most.