SWAN - South West Autism Network

12/10/2026

Support needs don’t disappear because a family member provides the support.

We’re concerned that the new NDIS support determination rules may leave some people with Down syndrome and their families without the protections they need.

In a new opinion piece, our CEO Darryl Steff explains why the safeguard for people with high support needs must recognise all the support a person needs, including support provided by family.

People with the same support needs should have the same protections, regardless of who provides their support.

Darryl will be in Canberra this week to raise these concerns directly with Ministers, MPs and the Department.

Read and share Darryl’s opinion piece: https://buff.ly/jfo2DqZ

09/10/2026

SWAN are advocating on the cost of autism diagnostic assessments, wait times to access Paediatricians, Psychiatrists and other diagnosticians, and the wait times to access NDIS and and funded supports in Western Australia.

Please share your story to support our advocacy. You can fill out the 5 minute survey for each person in your family who is diagnosed autistic. The survey will help us identify trends in wait times and costs per region in WA, to strengthen our advocacy to the State and Commonwealth Governments.

Survey:
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AutismDiagnosisWA

Please share widely !

Image Description:
On a dark teal background is the SWAN logo in the top left corner. Across the top of the image are colourful cut magazine cut out letters spelling 'autism'. Below that is white text reading 'Diagnosis Costs and Wait Times to Access Supports in Western Australia', followed by a cartoon image of a child with short brown hair wearing blue headphones, long sleeved top and pants and building a tower out of coloured wooden blocks. To the right is a QR code linking to the survey, and below that is white text of the survey link.

08/10/2026

If a participant runs out of funding in one funding period, can they agree with the provider to claim out of the next one?

Previously, the NDIA’s position was quite unclear (how surprising- we know!).

But the Agency has recently clarified that the answer is yes. People can claim backwards- from a current funding period, for services delivered in a previous period.

This means participants and providers can agree to hold a claim if there aren’t enough funds in the funding period the service was delivered in.

But, as with all things NDIS, there are some catches. You can learn more about that here: https://teamdsc.com.au/resources/can-providers-claim-flexibly-between-funding-periods

07/10/2026

SWAN gave evidence to the Joint Standing Committee Inquiry into the NDIS yesterday. One of the issues we raised is that we have heard from more than 20 families over the past 18 months who were threatened by NDIA planners with report to Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) during plan reassessments, when asking for support worker or respite funding for their child or teen. Typically the NDIA planner told parents the requested support was 'parental responsibility, and if you cannot perform your parental responsibility I will need to contact Child Protection'. A high proportion of those families were actually reported to CPFS in WA, NSW and SA (that we are aware of). SWAN have raised concerns about this issue to the NDIA since we first learned of the issue.

Journalist Ben McKay was listening to our evidence, and contacted SWAN to follow up. You can read his article here:
👉 https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9364554/complaining-ndis-families-face-child-protection-threats/

The national disability agency is referring families that complain about support levels to child protection services, an autism...

07/10/2026

Protect the person.

No NDIS cuts should leave a person unsafe or without the disability support they need.

It should be that simple.

Across the board funding cuts cannot account for the impact on every person,and every circumstance.

That’s why there must be strong safeguards when a broad rule causes harm to an individual.

EAC is calling for:

🔹 Protection for people who would be left unsafe or without necessary support
🔹 Clear exemptions when broad funding rules don’t meet an individual’s needs
🔹 Continuity of essential support while urgent disputes are resolved
🔹 Accessible escalation and meaningful review
🔹 Human oversight when decisions have serious consequences

A sustainable NDIS cannot be built by making people less safe.

And when evidence shows a policy is causing harm, government must be prepared to fix it.

Protect people. Fix what causes harm. Protect our NDIS.

📣 We need evidence of what is happening as these changes roll out. Share your story: https://forms.gle/HwzQQzcsWjV97SjEA

[Image description: Every Australian Counts graphic stamped “Document the Damage”. Text: “No cut should leave someone unsafe.”]

07/10/2026

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-15/autistic-queensland-man-human-rights-complaint-driving-standards/106891470

Casey Archbald says there is no "evidence" to support including autism in the national medical standards that determine whether a person can drive safely.

03/10/2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work scholarships! 🎓
CoMHWA and North Metropolitan TAFE are offering 30 scholarships, funded by the Mental Health Commission (WA), to study the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work in 2027.
To be eligible, applicants must:
• Have lived experience of personal mental and/or emotional distress and recovery, or lived experience of caring for someone through mental and/or emotional distress and recovery
• Be able to attend classes in Leederville two days a week, 9am–4pm, throughout 2027
• Have good digital literacy skills
• Be able to complete an 80-hour work placement
📅 Applications close at midnight on Thursday 22 October 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Shortlisted applicants will also need to attend a group discussion at CoMHWA on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
Interested? Download and read the Information Pack in full before applying. The link to the online application is included on the final page of the pack.
🔗 https://loom.ly/kxduSFM
Questions or need the application in another format? Contact our Education and Training team at [email protected]

03/10/2026

03/10/2026

Discover how NDIS reforms impact participant safety. Explore the Senate inquiry, Disability Royal Commission findings, and legal options for abuse victims.

02/10/2026