Funding stoush: Anglicare NT drops Darwin NDIS individual support services

A major disability support provider has labelled individual support under the NDIS in the Top End “untenable” after a price hike and dropped the service, yet it will remain in rural locations.

Knuckey St Darwin Centrelink. Picture: Che Chorley

One of the Northern Territory’s biggest disability service providers has dropped its individual support services in the capital – citing “substantial losses” from the NDIS funding model as the reason – while services will still be operated in regional centres.

Anglicare NT chief executive Craig Kelly announced the exit from NDIS individual support in Darwin in June in a statement obtained by NT News.

Mr Kelly called it a “difficult decision” which was made after an internal review confirmed Anglicare NT was offering NDIS individual support in Darwin at a “substantial loss”.

Anglicare NT chief executive Craig Kelly. Picture: Supplied

“Despite many alternative approaches being explored and implemented over a long period, we haven’t been able to reduce substantial losses that have continued to accrue over that time,” he said.

“This to a large degree reflects the NDIS funding model and challenges in delivering in a regional centre.”

Mr Kelly said “it looks like we will be able to retain all the affected staff”, who are set to be redeployed internally.

“This isn’t about making a profit, or breaking even; sustained losses eventually impact on the financial security of our other services,” he said.

“Under the regional centre model we simply can’t provide clients with the quality of services needed with the current funding allocation.”

Mr Kelly confirmed Anglicare NT would still offer NDIS individual support in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Nhulunbuy.

“We’ve made it clear at all stages to the public and participants we will not leave any of our participants unsupported and will continue to provide supports until another suitable provider can be engaged,” he said.

Affected patients will be transitioned to other providers by the end of July, according to Mr Kelly, who is now calling on a NDIS funding review.

The NDIS recently completed a funding review through the National Disability Insurance Agency – which became effective on July 1.

In a statement, the NDIA said a new pricing approach would be delivered in 2025, with an “independent expert” to oversee a review of the NDIS pricing structure. 

“While the review into NDIS pricing takes place, the NDIA will work closely with providers to ensure they have the information, support and resources needed to continue delivering vital supports to participants,” the statement reads.

A NDIA spokesperson said an annual pricing review was done each year to ensure NDIS pricing arrangements were appropriate.

“The 2023/2024 APR (annual pricing review) report reflects recent increases to award wages from the Fair Work Commission, and ensures those delivering vital services to Australians living with disability are adequately remunerated,” the spokesperson said.

NT Disabilities Minister Ngaree Ah Kit said it was disappointing to see Anglicare NT stop offering NDIS individual support in Darwin.

“We know that we have a very limited provider market in the Northern Territory and value the quality providers that we do have,” she said.

“In responding to recommendations of the NDIS review, we will work with the Australian government on ways to ensure local providers in the Northern Territory are supported to continue to provide these critical services and supports to some of our most vulnerable Territorians.”

Originally published as Funding stoush: Anglicare NT drops Darwin NDIS individual support services