The RACGP argues the NDIS Bill has missed a series of opportunities to meaningfully involve GPs in the legislative process.
Under the federal government’s NDIS overhaul, people with disability could have their support needs assessed, their budgets set, and their plans reviewed – all without any formal input from their GP, the RACGP warns.
The RACGP’s submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, published today, outlines a series of gaps in the bill – from the absence of NDIS navigators to GP reports that may inform but not influence funding decisions.
Under the bill, reports prepared by a patient’s regular GP “may inform” an NDIS needs assessor’s decision, but GPs will have no direct influence over the funding the patient ultimately receives.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said employing functional assessments for NDIS needs was “fundamentally sound”, but argued formal assessments often overlook the comprehensive psychosocial, environmental, and financial complexities of disability that GPs, through ongoing care, are well placed to understand.
“GPs offer a unique, broad perspective and can provide oversight of supports and advocate for additional assistance as needed,” he said.
The bill contained no mention of enabling GPs to interpret patients’ results from the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-Can), a tool used to assess the kind of support a person with disability requires.
The RACGP recommended GPs be included in the process and contribute their clinical expertise.
The bill also failed to mention NDIS navigators, a proposed support function to connect people with disabilities to local services, despite it being recommended in the December 2023 Independent Review.
“The RACGP would be keen to explore the concept of NDIS navigation further, including the possibility of this function being delegated – either fully or in part – to general practice teams,” said Dr Wright.
The college also pushed for GP representation on the Technical Advisory Group, a ministerially appointed expert advisory committee that will advise on eligibility thresholds and functional capacity assessments.
As it stands, there is no requirement for the group to include anyone from general practice.
At a minimum, the RACGP said the general practice sector should be consulted before the committee finalises its advice.
Dr Wright said the bill, which confirmed an impairment would be considered ‘permanent’ only after all appropriate treatment options were exhausted, underscored a clear role for GPs.
As the clinicians managing a patient’s long-term care, he said they are best placed to advise when a patient has truly exhausted their options.
Under the new bill, people with disabilities who do not meet the eligibility threshold may instead be redirected to mainstream supports or early intervention services, such as Thriving Kids.
“As the first point of contact for patients within the health system, GPs are instrumental in directing patients to appropriate supports and determining which programs will best suit their capacity needs,” said Dr Wright.
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The bill also restricted requests for an unscheduled reassessment of a plan to participants, their nominee or a guardian.
The RACGP argued that this decision would still require consideration and input from the patient’s treating GP, particularly if the change concerns a shift in the patient’s health or functional capacity.
Under the current bill, a person with disability can have their functional capacity assessed by someone without a health background.
The RACGP recommended that, at a minimum, assessors be drawn from GP-led multidisciplinary care teams, such as practice nurses with the clinical skills to assess an individual’s functional capacity.
Submissions closed on 1 June 2026.
