By Disability Sports Australia Media Team
Disability Sports Australia raises concerns about social isolation and the consequences of changes to NDIS community participation supports following new national research.
Disability Sports Australia is calling for greater consideration of people with disability following the release of the Scanlon Foundation’s 2026 Mapping Social Cohesion report, which highlights growing pessimism, financial pressure and concerns about Australia’s social connections.
The report, based on a survey of more than 10,000 Australians, found that 62 per cent believe social cohesion has declined over the past three to four years, while 46 per cent are pessimistic about Australia’s future.
Despite these concerns, Australia’s overall social cohesion index has remained stable since 2023, with local relationships continuing to provide an important source of connection. Some 81 per cent of Australians believe their neighbours are willing to help one another.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare research found that 19 per cent of people with disability aged 15 to 64 experienced social isolation in 2021, compared with 9.5 per cent of people without disability. Frequent loneliness was also higher, at 29 per cent compared with 17 per cent.
Disability Sports Australia CEO Ayden Shaw said:
“If local relationships are one of the things helping hold our communities together, I think we need to be concerned about people who are already finding it difficult to participate.
“People with disability are about twice as likely to experience social isolation. We should be asking what happens when those opportunities become even harder to access.”
In 2026, Disability Sports Australia has delivered 51 Abilities Unleashed events in communities across Australia, with 3,340 people with disability taking part.
However, feedback from the organisation’s free Bupa Every Body Moves events has included concerns about affording the supports needed to attend, uncertainty about funding to continue participating and the effect of negative public commentary about disability.
Some people have questioned whether there is any point trying a new sport if they do not believe they can afford to continue.
These concerns come as changes to NDIS social, economic and community participation supports take effect.
From 1 October 2026, affected budget allocations began being reduced by 50 per cent for new and reassessed plans, with renewals affected from February 2027. The impact on actual support spending will vary between participants.
The Australian Government has also committed $200 million to an Inclusive Communities Fund to help mainstream community organisations improve accessibility and their ability to support people with disability.
Disability Sports Australia participated in the September Ministerial Roundtable on the Fund with Minister Jenny McAllister, where it highlighted the importance of investing in organisations that build capability across whole sectors, alongside local community organisations.
However, the first funding round is not expected until around June 2027, several months after the NDIS changes commenced.
Mr Shaw said he supported the intention to give people with disability greater choice about where and how they participate, but questioned the sequencing.
“We’re reducing individual support allocations before the investment intended to help community organisations prepare has even commenced.
“And when that funding arrives, building the necessary capability will still take time.
“We’ve been supportive of the direction of these reforms, but we need to recognise that decisions across different parts of government can have consequences that compound, particularly for people already experiencing significant isolation.”
Disability Sports Australia is calling on the Australian Government to reconsider the sequencing of the NDIS changes, bring forward investment through the Inclusive Communities Fund and ensure appropriate transitional arrangements are available while local organisations develop their capability.
ENDS
About Disability Sports Australia:
Disability Sports Australia (DSA) is a national registered charity and recognised National Sporting Organisation for people with disability, working to make community sport possible for more people with disability.
For more than 65 years, DSA and its predecessor organisations have helped shape disability sport across Australia. Today, DSA creates opportunities for people with disability to experience sport, strengthens the capability of sporting organisations and advocates for change so more people can take part.
Through sport, DSA helps build confidence, friendships, belonging and stronger communities.
