NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed that the federal government would not push ahead with a proposal which would have required all NDIS participants to undergo independent functional assessments, rather than have assessments performed by the therapists and specialists who work with them regularly, who are arguably better placed to understand their capabilities.

For months, disability advocates have advised against the introduction of independent assessments. The federal government announced its plan to introduce the functional assessments in August last year, prior to the NDIS trialing the program.

Minister Reynolds met with Disability Ministers then confirmed that they “agreed with the Independent Advisory Council’s recommendation that the independent assessments in their current form will not proceed”.