If you’ve tried to book a psychologist lately, only to be met with waitlists, eye-watering gap fees, or vague responses about Medicare funding versus NDIS — you’re not imagining it.
This isn’t just an admin glitch.
It’s a systemic shift — and neurodivergent families are paying the price.
The NDIS Is Quietly Stepping Away From Psychology
NDIS has started removing clinical mental health care — like anxiety, trauma and depression treatment — from its funding model.
They’re not saying it outright. But the change is already happening in plan reviews. Why? Because that care is now being pushed back to Medicare.
On paper, that might sound okay. In practice, it’s a nightmare.
What This Looks Like for ADHD Families
Let’s break it down:
- If your child has been seeing a psychologist under NDIS for anxiety, trauma, emotional regulation, or mood difficulties, you may now be told that these aren’t ‘functional enough’ for NDIS funding.
- You’ll be redirected to get a mental health care plan through your GP — which means navigating Medicare, limited rebated sessions, and often paying $100–$150 gap fees.
- Even worse? There’s no extra support provided to help families with this change. Just more admin, more cost, and more confusion.
And for ADHD and autistic families — where burnout, masking, executive dysfunction, and emotional overwhelm are already a daily reality — this is devastating.
The Medicare System Was Never Built for This
A Medicare mental health care plan gives you access to 10 rebated psychology sessions per year.
After that, you’re on your own.
Gap fees for private psychologists can range from $80 to $180 per session — sometimes more.
That’s $800 to $1800 just to continue therapy your child might need weekly, year-round.
And that assumes:
- You can find a psychologist taking new clients.
- They’re willing to accept a mental health care plan.
- They understand neurodivergence and trauma-informed care.
Which many don’t.
Why This Is a Policy Issue — Not a Personal One
This shift isn’t about fraud or ethics.
It’s about budget.
The government’s own figures show they expect to save $500 million per year by quietly removing kids from the NDIS — compared to just $200 million over four years from cracking down on fraud.
So let’s be clear:
- This isn’t about misuse of the system.
- It’s about cost-cutting that directly affects disabled and neurodivergent children.
And it’s pushing families into a broken system that wasn’t designed to meet their needs.
The Real Impact? It’s Hitting Mums Hard
Every time the NDIS changes, it doesn’t just affect kids. It hits mothers — hard.
Because behind every funding letter and service rejection is a mum trying to hold it all together.
Now we’re expected to:
- Be legal experts on “reasonable and necessary”
- Translate vague policy shifts into therapy decisions
- Rebuild support systems with zero help and less money
All while managing our own ADHD, trauma, anxiety, and exhaustion.
This is more than exhausting — it’s dehumanising.
But There Are Things You Can Do
Here’s what helps:
1. Reframe Your Reports Around Function, Not Feelings
The NDIS doesn’t want to hear about anxiety or trauma alone. They want to know how it impacts:
- Daily routines
- School attendance
- Social interaction
- Independence
If your child’s anxiety means they can’t leave the house, get dressed, attend school or sleep — that’s a functional impact. And it needs to be stated clearly in reports.
2. Speak to Your Psychologist (Verbally)
Many are confused too. Talk through your child’s support needs and how they link to function. Use specific examples. Stay off email if you can — you’ll often get more flexibility in person or over the phone.
3. If You’re Cut — Challenge It
- Request an internal review ASAP.
- Escalate to an external review if needed.
- Collect school reports, teacher letters, GP notes.
4. Use Neuroaffirming Resources
Many psychologists are trying their best, but they’re under pressure. Use ADHD Mums’ list of recommended neuroaffirming providers who understand the system — and your child.
See here the link to access this list of Practitioners
5. Tell Your Story
This isn’t just happening to you. Share your experience to push back against this quiet dismantling.
Submit your story here: NDIS Complaint Form (JotForm)
✍️ Sign the petition: Stop NDIS Cuts for Kids (Change.org)
You’re Not the Problem
If you’re crying over spreadsheets, dreading plan reviews, or cancelling therapy because you can’t afford the gap — it’s not because you’re failing.
It’s because the system is.
ADHD families don’t need more resilience.
We need funding models that recognise fluctuating capacity, early intervention, and dynamic needs.
We need systems that centre the child — not the spreadsheet.
And we need politicians to stop hiding cost-cutting behind ‘improved management’.
Until then, we stay loud.
And we stand together.
