The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has transformed the landscape of disability support in Australia, yet significant gaps remain, particularly for families in rural areas who have members requiring assistance but yet to access National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) packages. This paper explores reflections from five regional social workers about the challenges they faced supporting such families. 

The paper highlights the invisible nature of working with families who require disability services but are yet to engage with the NDIS. Further research is required to better understand what is happening for families who fall outside NDIS-funded services and their providers.

The research identifies a number of key challenges for practice.

• Time and resource burden for busy social workers to navigate the NDIS.
• A lack of easily accessible guidelines for navigating the NDIS application process for family support service staff.
• A lack of communication between NDIS and broader family services sector, especially when there are changes.
• Difficulty for family services practitioners in supporting families to identify the appropriate disability services because this is outside their primary expertise.
• Disability services can be difficult to access.
• Disability support services spread thinly over large geographic areas.