NDIA cuts paralysed Brisbane woman's therapy hours, calls extra care not "value for money"
April Coulson, paralysed since 2019, has had her NDIS-funded physiotherapy hours slashed by two-thirds and a $5,000 ramp replacement denied, against expert advice.
What to know
- The NDIA cut April Coulson's physiotherapy hours by two-thirds and denied funding for a $5,000 ramp replacement, ruling both not "value for money," against expert advice.
- The decision suggests unqualified support workers and family members can substitute for specialist therapy, which Coulson says put her at greater risk given her osteoporosis and injury-proneness.
- The case has become a rallying example in wider online discussion of NDIS funding cuts, with multiple commenters describing similar reductions to their own plans and ongoing legal disputes.
The dispute Whether the funding cuts reflect unjust, harmful cost-cutting specific to a failing NDIS, or a defensible (if imperfectly implemented) shift toward cheaper, adequately-trained support-worker care similar to rationing already common across the health system. · positions read across 9 posts and comments
The cuts are unjust and part of a punishing, worsening pattern across the NDIS system.
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“What a truly horrific situation where a there is an NDIA staffer is telling someone that basic supports for a basic disability like a new ramp to get in and out of your home is "not value for money"”
Chage · reddit ↗
Some cuts to allied-health hours can be clinically defensible if paired with proper support-worker training, though the system isn't there yet.
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“I promise you support workers and many other health workers have fantastic opportunity to facilitate regular PA... for someone with a SCI they do not need physio multiple times a week for the rest of their life.”
_misst · reddit ↗
Rationing decisions like this mirror how other government health systems (PBS, Medicare) already limit coverage, so it isn't unique overreach.
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“Except we kind of do have that over arching body. PBS will only cover certain drugs when prescribed for certain reasons. Medicare for certain tests requires certain thresholds to be met.”
ManyPersonality2399 · reddit ↗
Darkly cynical framing: the cuts amount to a deliberate, systemic push against disabled people.
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“Yeah, the whole thing is being done as slow eugenics. I wish I could make it better, but know that you're not alone in this.”
bl4nkSl8 · reddit ↗
April Coulson 26-year-old Brisbane womanAnn-Louise April Coulson's motherNational Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Government body administering the NDIS
How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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4
NDIA slashes Coulson's therapy hours and denies ramp funding
Acting against expert advice, the National Disability Insurance Agency cut her therapy hours by two-thirds and rejected funding for a $5,000 replacement ramp, with a delegate's written internal review ruling both were not "value for money" and suggesting unqualified support workers or family fill the gap.
“It is expected the disability support workers have appropriate qualifications and training to complete the role they have been employed to complete and assist you in implement [sic] exercise routine.”
— NDIA delegate -
first by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11d ago · also ABC Australia
1 more headline
- NDIS slashes Brisbane woman's physical therapy hours, citing 'value for money' ABC Australia · 11d ago
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I’m a physio with a PhD… my research is in physical activity inclusivity. I promise you support workers and many other health workers have fantastic opportunity to facilitate regular PA, and although you’re right it doesn’t replace physio, for someone with a SCI they do not need physio multiple times a week for the rest of their life. I don’t…
2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
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Yeah, the whole thing is being done as slow eugenics. I wish I could make it better, but know that you're not alone in this. Ants together strong right?
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I'm autistic, therefore I don't need a medical degree /s I mean, are we better, not necessarily, but it's a lot
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Reddit discussion voices alarm over the cuts
A Reddit post sharing the ABC story draws comments expressing fear about the NDIS's direction, with commenters describing similar cuts to their own plans and ongoing legal challenges.
“I hope her review is upheld. I'm honestly really scared of what NDIS will become versus what it was meant to be if this is anything to go by.”
— Chage -
I’m so incredibly sorry. What a punishing system it’s become. I’m reading more and more accounts like this (often in the various fb groups, I’m sure you know of them) and feel so fucken helpless. Think the ABC is doing well publishing these as case studies, almost – there have been a few recently. I had dangerous, absurd cuts made to my plan last…
2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
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Except we kind of do have that over arching body. PBS will only cover certain drugs when prescribed for certain reasons. Medicare for certain tests requires certain thresholds to be met. We just don't see those considerations and limitations as often. Hell, my GP really wants me to get vit b levels tested. Apparently that's not covered, only some…
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I’m in this situation . Currently going through the final avenue of legal challenge. And to date, they’re ignoring everything and playing dumb/hardball.
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Disability advocates amplify the story on social media
Accounts including disability-policy commentators shared the ABC report under hashtags such as #PeopleWithDisability and #AusPol, framing it as an example of NDIS "slash & burn."
“NDIS slash & burn example…”
— dalereardon@mastodon.social -
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# NDIS slash & burn example: ABC Feeds ( @ abcfeeds ): NDIS slashes Brisbane woman's physical therapy hours, citing 'value for money' By Janelle Miles A bleed on April Coulson's spinal cord left her paralysed. Funding for her NDIS plan has been slashed. https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-09-13/par…
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ABC News publishes Coulson's case
Journalist Janelle Miles reports Coulson's story, detailing the cuts and her fear of being put at risk by unqualified care, and the case is picked up by Google News and social media.
“I'm already extremely injury prone with severe osteoporosis and other complications. To put myself in the risk of someone who i…”
— April Coulson -
background
NDIS-funded rehab helps Coulson rebuild independence — NDIS funding covered support workers, a wheelchair, a ramp and daily physiotherapy, exercise physiology and occupational therapy, which Coulson credits with letting her recover strength, stop using pressure-sore-prone positioning, drive again and return to full-time work off the disability support pension.
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background
Doctors trace the bleed to rare blood vessel malformations — After two years of investigation, scans found rare vascular malformations elsewhere in her body that doctors suspect caused a similar bleed onto her spinal cord; Coulson spent six months in hospital before returning to her parents' Brisbane home.
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background
April Coulson is paralysed by a spinal cord bleed — Then a healthy, active teenager, Coulson woke up unable to move from the armpits down after a bleed onto her spinal cord.
What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · best of 9 · verbatim
- Will April Coulson's internal review decision be overturned on appeal?
- How widespread are similar plan cuts across the NDIS, and is this a deliberate policy shift?
- Sep 14
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"the medical and disability system treated their medical situation with medicine" Why are you mad about that?
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And many of us can't walk! (Around 12% of Australians have a mobility disability)