The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Disability & The National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Health and Ageing, Addresses the National Press Club of Australia.

“Thriving Kids’ and a fresh growth target: The new NDIS announcements explained”

by the Specialist Reporting Team’s Evan Young and national disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella

“The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has transformed the lives of its participants, but hard questions about the scheme’s future are again being asked.

On Wednesday, Disability and NDIS Minister Mark Butler made several announcements on the future of the $48 billion scheme, aimed at moderating its future growth.

It follows figures that again show children, particularly those with autism, continue to make up a large proportion of participants, and reminders the scheme is on track to outstrip the defence budget. …”

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Dr Norman Swan provided an explanation to the ABC of the changes in diagnostic criteria for Autism since 2013 when the 5th edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5 was released and the impact this has had on the perception of Autism in the community. The DSM-5 is the leading handbook used by mental health professionals, such as Psychologists and Psychiatrists, to diagnose and classify mental health disorders, providing a common language and consistent criteria for diagnosis.