The Australian Government is working to design and deliver additional supports in the community, referred to as Foundational Supports. These specific supports are additional to mainstream services and those services delivered via the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

There are different types of Foundational Supports. The first of these for discussion are General Foundational Supports. General Foundational Supports are supports available to help all people with disability, including those who are on the NDIS and those who are not. General supports will generally fall into three categories – information and advice, individual and family capacity building, and community capacity building.

This report collates responses from young people with disability, parents, and caregivers to a survey about the government’s proposed Foundational Supports and finds a high degree of anxiety and confusion about the program.

Nearly all respondents (93%) said they did not have enough information to understand how they would be impacted, while nearly one in two were worried.

Many were also concerned that General Foundational Supports:

• would replace NDIS supports
• would not adequately address diverse needs
• would not be practical or useful.