Press kit + open datasets

Story angles + headline data

If you're writing about the NDIS, disability services, supported independent living, or NDIS policy reform, here's the headline-ready data points pulled from this CSV:

• Scheme scale 2026: Around 690,000 active NDIS participants. Federal scheme expenditure approximately $48B per year and growing around 12pct annually. Around 19,000 registered providers + an estimated 130,000 unregistered providers (mostly sole-trader support workers serving self-managed + plan-managed participants).
• Registered vs unregistered: NDIS Quality + Safeguards Commission registration is mandatory only for providers serving NDIA-managed participants + for specialist supports (Specialist Disability Accommodation, SIL, behaviour support, restrictive practices). Self-managed + plan-managed participants can engage unregistered providers. Around 78pct of participants are NDIA-managed, plan-managed or a mix; around 22pct are fully self-managed.
• NDS membership: National Disability Services is the peak industry body. Around 1,100 NDS members, predominantly mid-to-large not-for-profits + faith-based providers. NDS members commit to a Code of Ethics + sector advocacy. Strongest concentration of NDS-member providers in NSW + VIC.
• Service category mix: The 14 NDIS support categories include Core (consumables, daily activities, social + community participation, transport), Capacity Building (improved daily living, improved relationships, increased social + community participation, finding + keeping a job, choice + control, health + wellbeing, lifelong learning, support coordination) + Capital (assistive technology, home modifications, Specialist Disability Accommodation). Most large providers cover 4-6 categories; specialist therapy + SDA providers focus on 1-2.
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): Around 28,000 SDA places nationally. SDA funding is paid to the dwelling provider, separate from Supported Independent Living (SIL) which funds the support workers. Around 750 SDA-registered providers. Average annual SDA payment $50,000-$110,000 per participant depending on design category (Improved Liveability / Fully Accessible / Robust / High Physical Support).
• SIL (Supported Independent Living): Around 30,000 participants live in SIL settings (group homes, individual apartments with shared supports). SIL costs average $250,000-$450,000 per participant per year for 24/7 support, making it the largest single category of NDIS spending.
• Plan-management vs self-management: Plan-managed participants (around 53pct) use a plan manager (an intermediary that processes invoices). Self-managed participants (around 22pct) manage their own budget + invoices directly. NDIA-managed participants (around 25pct) can only use registered providers paid via the NDIA portal.
• Reform pipeline 2026: The NDIS Review (delivered December 2023) recommended foundational supports outside the NDIS (state-funded), tighter eligibility, navigator role + provider registration overhaul. Implementation rolling through 2025-2027. Aim is to slow scheme growth from around 12pct/year to around 8pct/year by 2030.

Direct quote attribution: "Compare NDIS Services" or "comparendisservices.com.au".