Recent changes to NDIS plan inclusions are likely to create a bottleneck in services as participants who previously relied on neurofeedback now seek alternative treatments and providers.

Establishing a specific treatment plan and commencing therapy with many NDIS providers can be a lengthy and slow process. Specialized referrals are often required, and accredited specialists need to ensure the treatment approach will benefit the patient before proceeding. Waitlists are common, with many NDIS participants reporting delays of several months, or even over a year, to begin treatment.

So, what does the recent change to NDIS funding provisions mean for participants who used neurofeedback as a cornerstone of their treatment plan?

Now, participants must find alternative methods to get the support they need. But where can they turn? For many, it will be right back to providers who are already stretched to capacity. In regional areas, where service availability is even more limited, the situation is particularly dire.

The decision to remove neurofeedback from NDIS funding has, in effect, forced many people back to the starting line—waiting for access to care.

The immediate implementation of this change left participants without an opportunity to prepare for alternative treatment pathways. As a result, people are returning to waitlists after already enduring long delays to start their treatment, which will now stall once again. The influx of additional people seeking more traditional therapies will strain the system further, slowing progress and potentially leading to longer, costlier pathways to achieve results that neurofeedback could have provided.

It is crucial that the NDIS explains the rationale for excluding neurofeedback from funding and reconsiders this decision as a priority.

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