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NDIS Fight: Parents Battle Agency for Daughter's Life
31 May
Summary
- Parents appealed NDIS plans five times in five years.
- NDIS spent over $330,000 fighting one family's case.
- Tribunal ruled NDIS plan change risked child's life.
A family has been fighting the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) for five years to secure essential support for their daughter, Sienna, who has severe cerebral palsy. Sienna requires constant medical care, including suctioning her lungs every five to ten minutes and 24/7 oxygen. Her parents have appealed Sienna's NDIS plans five times, leading to extensive legal battles. The NDIA has spent over $330,000 on legal fees to contest one family's appeals.
In April 2025, an Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) ruled that a proposed NDIS plan change, which sought to replace registered nurses with untrained support workers for Sienna's overnight care, presented "very high" risks to her safety. The tribunal noted the agency had not considered the child's best interests. Despite this ruling, the NDIA appealed to a further body, the Guidance and Appeals Panel (GAP).
Legal fees for the NDIA in Sienna's most recent ART appeal and preparation for the GAP appeal exceeded $339,000 by November 2025. The family emphasizes that every cent of Sienna's NDIS funding is crucial for her survival and participation in society. A decision from the GAP is pending, while the parents continue advocating for their daughter's life-saving care.
