Paralympic gold medallist Tracy Barrell says she faces a future where she could be left to "wet the bed" after the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) significantly reduced the 24-hour care she relies on. Barrell, who won swimming gold for Australia at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, claims bureaucrats slashed her support package despite specialist reports recommending round-the-clock assistance.
"They will only fund me to get dressed in the morning and eat breakfast, then get me dressed for bed," Barrell told the Daily Mail. "No overnight care. Guess I'll just wet the bed and not get dressed the next day instead so I get my linen changed."
She stated that she depends on support workers for essential tasks, including transferring to the bathroom, repositioning in bed, and personal care throughout the day and night. Barrell's disability is due to a congenital malformation. She reported that her care package was cut by two-thirds, reducing funded support to four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon.
Barrell stated the cuts occurred after she requested an additional hour of physiotherapy per week and a new bed to help prevent pressure sores. "This lady from the NDIS rings me out of the blue saying the whole plan has to be reviewed," she said. "She was really cold about it and offered no opportunity to appeal."
She expressed distress, noting her plan was in place until August with $400,000 in funding. "To say the least, I'm having a meltdown. I'm broken. The system is crazy." Barrell added that reports from her general practitioner, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist all indicated that removing her 24-hour support posed a significant risk to her health and well-being.
Without support workers, Barrell anticipates being largely confined to her home. Although she can drive a specially adapted vehicle, she requires assistance entering and exiting it and can no longer safely cook for herself. "I enjoy cooking. It's all falling apart," she said. "NDIS is punishing people with severe physical disabilities to claw back money from fraudsters. They haven't even given the standard 21 days to appeal. Deleting support hours for us is criminal. We have more than justified our daily needs."
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) declined to comment on Barrell's specific case but stated that its priority is ensuring participants have access to necessary disability-related supports. An NDIA spokeswoman said all decisions are made in line with the NDIS Act and that participants have the right to request a review of agency decisions. She added that no changes to participant funding have been implemented as a result of proposed NDIS reforms.
Barrell's situation arises as the federal government faces criticism from some NDIS participants who claim legitimate support packages are being reduced amid efforts to curb fraud and manage scheme costs. The NDIS highlighted its fraud crackdown, reporting that 17 convicted fraudsters have been jailed for a combined 60 years since the establishment of the Fraud Fusion Taskforce in November 2022. In the financial year to May 31, taskforce operations led to 50 search warrants and investigations into more than $118 million in NDIS claims.
NDIS Minister Senator Jenny McAllister emphasized the severity of fraud against individuals with disabilities, stating, "If you seek to drain the plans of people with disability, then we are coming for you." While Barrell supports fraud crackdowns, she fears legitimate participants are being negatively impacted. She expressed concern that funding cuts could have devastating consequences for families caring for individuals with severe disabilities, noting that some NDIS participants are considering assisted dying due to quality of life concerns with reduced support.