The kids are starting to head back to school, the tennis open has been run and won, and 2024 has already begun in earnest. This time next week, as the parliamentary year gets underway, I’ll be in Canberra. But I have already been talking to Minister Shorten and other organisations in the sector, with everyone looking ahead to the next steps in the reform process coming out of the NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission recommendations.

Just this morning, Ministers Rishworth and Shorten announced $11.6 million in funding to develop a Foundational Supports Strategy, to implement one of the central set of recommendations from the NDIS Review. Funding has been earmarked to support design and consultation on accessing the NDIS, improved home and living options, better ways to access and pay for supports, and developing the model for best practice early childhood supports. The Strategy is set to be considered by National Cabinet in the second half of the year.