Community & Business
9 June, 2026
NDIS plan review turns sour
Award-nominated teacher-aide Ann-Marie Tyrie says the safety of disability care providers is being put at risk after an NDIS care plan review for her son Shawn reduced his care support ratio from a 1:1 to 1:3.
Shawn lives with multiple significant diagnoses and disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 3, severe intellectual impairment, Prader-Willi Syndrome, hearing impairment and vision impairment. He is non-verbal and has severe behavioural challenges.
For several years, he has been funded for a 1:1 support ratio for time spent with his carer.
In December of last year, a review of Shawn’s circumstances wound back his support from 1:1 to 1:3, meaning that Shawn will now be grouped with two other National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants during his time with a support worker.
Ann-Marie says 49 years of personal experience living and caring for Shawn has shown her that grouping him with two other participants with needs of their own simply wouldn’t work, and would put the participants and the carer at risk.
“Our daily lives revolve entirely around Shawn’s care, safety, wellbeing, and behaviours,” she said.
“Every aspect of our day must be carefully planned.
“Decisions that many families make without thought require detailed preparation for us: where we go, how we travel, how long we stay, what route we take, whether the environment may trigger distress, and whether a venue is appropriate or safe for Shawn.
“Shawn has no awareness of road safety, danger, social norms, or what constitutes acceptable public behaviour.
“He has no understanding of laws or rules.
“Even a short walk to a local shop requires careful planning and risk assessment to ensure the safety of Shawn, myself, our family members, support workers, and members of the public.”
Ann-Marie says Shawn’s behavioural incidents would be unmanageable for carers on a 1:3 ratio.
“When Shawn experiences a meltdown, the consequences can be severe,” she said.
“He becomes highly aggressive and distressed and engages in serious self-injurious behaviours.
“This includes repeatedly striking his head, chest, and torso to the point of bruising, biting his fingers until they bleed, and scratching himself severely.
“He also directs his distress toward property and objects. Over time, Shawn has destroyed multiple televisions, broken three washing machines, damaged windows, and caused damage to walls within our home.”
“During these episodes, others must be removed to safety while Shawn remains under close supervision, as he cannot be left unattended.
“This means I stay with him and do my very best to de-escalate the situation.
“Despite my decades of experience and understanding of his behaviours, there are times when he lashes out physically toward me as well.”
She now intends to appeal the December decision to remove Shawn’s 1:1 support to the Administrative Review Tribunal, an independent body.
Ann-Marie said the review process, and her worries about Shawn’s inability to cope in a 1:3 care ratio, have been taking an emotional toll.
“As you can imagine, my stress levels are extraordinarily high,” she said.
“We are now preparing to begin the difficult process of gathering further evidence to take this matter to the Tribunal, in the hope that somewhere within the system there may be a greater understanding of common sense, lived experience, and what is genuinely required to keep my son - and our community - safe.”
The decision, which effectively reduces the amount of money the Federal Government has to pay Shawn by two-thirds, comes at a time when pressure is on the Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler to manage cost blowouts in the system. The Minister’s office declined to comment on the case.
A spokesperson for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) denied that the plan review decision had anything to do with wider NDIS reforms or was related to attempts to save money on the Scheme.
“There have been no changes to the NDIS plan review process.
“The NDIA’s top priority is ensuring every participant has access to the disability-related support they need.
“All evidence provided is considered when the Agency makes funding decisions in line with the NDIS Act.
“NDIS participants or their nominees have the right to request a review of decisions, including to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).”
