Who is in the scheme
782,013 people have an active NDIS plan. 162,746 of them are under nine — the single largest age band in the scheme, and one that reshapes what housing demand will look like in twenty years.
By primary disability group
Participant numbers and plan budgets data, 30 June 2026
- Autism $46,000 average annualised plan 350,651 46%
- Intellectual Disability $137,000 average annualised plan 100,509 13%
- Psychosocial disability $120,000 average annualised plan 66,122 9%
- Developmental delay $22,000 average annualised plan 59,286 8%
- Hearing Impairment $19,000 average annualised plan 29,823 4%
- Other Neurological $207,000 average annualised plan 26,612 3%
- ABI $213,000 average annualised plan 20,487 3%
- Other Physical $108,000 average annualised plan 20,284 3%
- Cerebral Palsy $208,000 average annualised plan 19,041 2%
- Global developmental delay $27,000 average annualised plan 18,879 2%
- Other $133,000 average annualised plan 14,680 2%
- Multiple Sclerosis $140,000 average annualised plan 12,531 2%
- Down Syndrome $163,000 average annualised plan 11,803 2%
- Visual Impairment $64,000 average annualised plan 11,299 1%
By age band
Summed across disability groups
- 0 to 8 162,746 21%
- 9 to 14 158,466 20%
- 15 to 18 83,105 11%
- 19 to 24 74,537 10%
- 25 to 34 70,143 9%
- 35 to 44 56,166 7%
- 45 to 54 59,525 8%
- 55 to 64 72,040 9%
- 65+ 44,978 6%
SDA is overwhelmingly used by working-age adults. The scheme’s weight in the youngest bands is an early-intervention effect, and most of those children will never need SDA.
Growth by state
Active participants by state, summed from the SA4 dataset — the longest series the NDIA publishes at regional granularity. Values exclude cells the NDIA suppresses, so each line is a lower bound.
Average committed budget by support class
Annualised, weighted by participants in each disability group
- Core supports 700,392 participants $68,237 est
- Capital supports 135,272 participants $20,849 est
- Capacity building 775,832 participants $20,725 est
SDA is funded from Capital supports. A participant living in SDA typically also draws Core supports for the assistance they receive at home.
Largest average plans by disability group
Average annualised committed support budget, all support classes
- Spinal Cord Injury 6,644 participants 236,000
- ABI 20,487 participants 213,000
- Stroke 11,192 participants 210,000
- Cerebral Palsy 19,041 participants 208,000
- Other Neurological 26,612 participants 207,000
- Down Syndrome 11,803 participants 163,000
- Multiple Sclerosis 12,531 participants 140,000
- Intellectual Disability 100,509 participants 137,000
- Other 14,680 participants 133,000
- Psychosocial disability 66,122 participants 120,000
The groups with the largest plans — spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury — are also those most likely to be assessed for High Physical Support housing.
Projected participants
The NDIA publishes forward projections by service district. They are projections, not commitments, and the Agency asks that they not be treated as a forecast.
| Service district | Now | 2030 | 2035 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QLD Brisbane | 29,133 | 37,100 | 44,200 | 52% |
| NSW South Western Sydney | 34,742 | 41,100 | 48,700 | 40% |
| VIC Bayside Peninsula | 24,205 | 30,000 | 37,000 | 53% |
| NSW Western Sydney | 26,682 | 31,300 | 36,900 | 38% |
| VIC Western Melbourne | 20,055 | 25,700 | 30,200 | 51% |
| VIC Southern Melbourne | 19,399 | 24,400 | 28,900 | 49% |
| QLD Beenleigh | 18,915 | 23,700 | 27,900 | 48% |
| NSW Hunter New England | 35,717 | 37,400 | 44,600 | 25% |
| QLD Caboolture/Strathpine | 18,337 | 23,300 | 27,100 | 48% |
| QLD Robina | 16,377 | 21,000 | 24,900 | 52% |
| VIC North East Melbourne | 18,970 | 22,300 | 27,200 | 43% |
| SA Northern Adelaide | 21,228 | 24,800 | 28,900 | 36% |