Access to treatment options for NDIS participants is not equal for all.

Treatment services in regional areas are often less accessible than in metropolitan areas. Although physical distance is a commonly cited reason for this disparity, other contributing factors include:

• Limited service offerings.
• Scarcity of specialised service providers.
• Increased reliance on generalists.
• Variability in service development.
• Reduced flexibility for service providers in regional areas.
• Increased potential for service gaps.
• Local economic and infrastructure limitations.
• Impact of local health policies.
• Greater disruption to consistency of care.

It is clear is that regional areas do not have the same level of access to treatment services and require more flexibility in how treatment services can be delivered.

This means that where alternative treatment options are available, they should be prioritised when factoring in regional needs. Neurofeedback is an alternative treatment pathway, with a growing suite of evidence-based effectiveness, that can be delivered in-home by families and carers. It is simple to manage and an accelerator for other general treatments that are slower in effectiveness without it.

Removal of neurofeedback from NDIS funding is removing a treatment pathway that exacerbates access issues for regional people who need support, not further hardship.

The decision to remove NDIS funding for neurofeedback treatment demonstrates a lack of understanding of the value of the treatment, but more importantly hurts those the program is meant to help. Submitting special requests for funding exemptions to enable continuation of this treatment is only another obstacle for parents and carers who are already under strain. Without a demonstrated likelihood of success, it is a distraction from the care we need to provide.

It is important that the NDIS provides detail on the reasons for excluding neurofeedback from funding and reconsiders this decision as a matter of urgency.

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