Tasmania Disability & NDIS
Tasmania has around 15,000 NDIS participants. Small market scale creates thin markets even in regional centres, with allied health shortages across the state.
ROGS 2026
System Outcomes — Tasmania
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Participants — autism (%) | 39.2 | 2025 |
| Average plan payment — Indigenous ($K) | 39 | 2025 |
| Average plan payment — remote ($K) | 39 | 2025 |
| Participants — intellectual disability (%) | 19.6 | 2025 |
| NDIS contributions ($'000) | $286.3M | 2024-25 |
| NDIS participants per 1,000 (0-64) | 33.3 | 2025 |
| Participants — psychosocial disability (%) | 7.6 | 2025 |
| Unauthorised chemical restraint | 6.6 | 2024-25 |
| Unauthorised physical restraint | 12.9 | 2024-25 |
| Unauthorised seclusion incidents | 3.7 | 2024-25 |
| Plan implementation satisfaction (%) | 73.7 | 2025 |
| Total disability expenditure ($M) | $4K | 2024-25 |
| Total NDIS payments ($M) | $1.1M | 2024-25 |
| Transport difficulty — severe disability (%) | 43.3 | 2022 |
| Transport difficulty — all disability (%) | 19.6 | 2022 |
| Plan utilisation — Indigenous (%) | 65.3 | 2025 |
| Plan utilisation — non-Indigenous (%) | 65.4 | 2025 |
| Plan utilisation — regional (%) | 65.6 | 2025 |
| Plan utilisation — remote (%) | 56.2 | 2025 |
Thin Market Analysis
NDIS thin markets in Tasmania
| LGA | Remoteness | Participants | Providers | Status | Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast (M) | 101 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Latrobe (M) (Tas.) | 305 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| King Island (M) | 19 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Burnie (C) | 738 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| West Tamar (M) | 684 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Devonport (C) | 995 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Glenorchy (C) | 1,906 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Waratah/Wynyard (M) | 485 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Kingborough (M) | 969 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Meander Valley (M) | 555 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Sorell (M) | 433 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Clarence (C) | 1,769 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Flinders (M) (Tas.) | 17 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Central Coast (M) (Tas.) | 638 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Northern Midlands (M) | 388 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Huon Valley (M) | 482 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Brighton (M) | 837 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Hobart (C) | 1,043 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Dorset (M) | 155 | 0 | CRITICAL | — | |
| Circular Head (M) | 159 | 0 | CRITICAL | — |
Top Disability Providers
By cross-system connections
| Organisation | Remoteness | Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Guide Dogs For The Blind Association Of Tasmania | Inner Regional | 32 |
| Eskleigh Foundation Incorporated | Inner Regional | 25 |
| Miss Amber Louise Richards | Inner Regional | 1 |
| Miss Mary Denece Appleby | Outer Regional | 0 |
| Joining the Dodts Pty Ltd | Outer Regional | 0 |
| The Trustee for KILPATRICK FAMILY TRUST | Inner Regional | 0 |
| Hobart Care Services Pty Ltd | Inner Regional | 0 |
| LAN, ASHE | Inner Regional | 0 |
| Mr Brendan Walls | Remote | 0 |
| Adapt Care Tasmania Pty Ltd | Inner Regional | 0 |
| THOMAS, ANDREW | Inner Regional | 0 |
| MOSEL WILLIAMS CARE PTY LTD | Inner Regional | 0 |
| The Trustee for MEDECS AUSTRALIA TRUST | Inner Regional | 0 |
| THRIVE @ LIFE PTY LTD | Outer Regional | 0 |
| FREEDOM HOME CARE PTY LTD | Inner Regional | 0 |
Policy Timeline
Key legislation, inquiries, and reforms
NDIS expenditure reaches $42.7B annually. Growth moderation target of 8% (down from 14%). Fraud and compliance measures.
Major NDIS reform legislation. New needs assessments, budgets replace plan values, foundational supports, participant pathway redesign.
Independent review by Prof. Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul. 26 recommendations including redesign of NDIS Act, new "foundational supports" outside NDIS, better planning.
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. 7 years, 10,000+ submissions, 222 recommendations.
Enhanced compliance and enforcement powers. New worker screening requirements. Practice standards for behaviour support.
National strategy across 7 outcome areas. Replaces NDS 2010-2020. Guiding Principles include human rights, self-determination, accessibility.
Legislated service standards including timeframes for plan approval, plan reviews, and access decisions.
National Disability Insurance Scheme established. Lifetime approach to disability support, moving from block funding to individual packages.
Oversight & Accountability
Recommendations from inquiries, audits, and commissions
| Body | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
ANAO NDIS Decision-Making Audit | ANAO-DIS-1Improve consistency and transparency of NDIS access and planning decisions | partially implemented |
Disability Royal Commission Final Report | DRC-1Phase out and prohibit group homes and congregate settings for people with disability by 2043 | pending |
Disability Royal Commission Final Report | DRC-2Establish a Disability Rights Act to enshrine rights of people with disability in legislation | pending |
Disability Royal Commission Final Report | DRC-3Eliminate use of restrictive practices (chemical, mechanical, physical restraint, seclusion) by 2033 | pending |
Disability Royal Commission Final Report | DRC-4All states and territories raise minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years | pending |
Joint Standing Committee on NDIS NDIS Workforce Inquiry | JSC-1Develop national NDIS workforce strategy with pathway programs, wage increases, and rural incentives | partially implemented |
NDIS Review Working together to deliver the NDIS | NDISR-1Establish new "foundational supports" funded by all governments, outside the NDIS | partially implemented |
NDIS Review Working together to deliver the NDIS | NDISR-2Replace current planning process with new needs assessment and budget-based approach | partially implemented |
NDIS Review Working together to deliver the NDIS | NDISR-3Create navigator roles to help participants access both NDIS and foundational supports | pending |