What’s happening?
A new report from Kismet, Australia’s first all-in-one digital healthcare and disability ecosystem, has uncovered alarming shortfalls in National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service delivery across North and Far North Queensland. Data from the Kismet Care Index shows participants in the electorates of Leichhardt, Kennedy, Herbert, Dawson, and Capricornia face major barriers to accessing the care they’re funded for.
Why it matters?
The findings highlight a growing regional divide in disability support, with thousands of North Queenslanders left behind by slow service, limited provider choice, and unspent funding. These gaps can leave vulnerable people without the support they need, undermining the goals of the NDIS and harming communities.
Local Impact
Kismet Co-Founder and CEO Mark Woodland said the data makes clear that the system is failing many locals. “When participants can’t use their funding, face long delays, and are stuck with one or two provider options, the system is failing them,” he said. Don Elgin, former Paralympian and Head of Events at One Community, which is now part of Kismet, added, “This data tells us what local communities have been feeling for a while; care isn’t equally available to everyone.”
By the numbers:
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66% plan utilisation in the region means a third of participant funding goes unused, leaving crucial support out of reach.
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The region ranks 135th out of 150 federal electorates, putting North Queensland among Australia’s lowest-performing areas for NDIS service delivery.
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81% supplier concentration reveals a lack of provider choice, with most participants reliant on a small number of services.
Zoom In
The data from the Kismet Care Index shows not only low plan utilisation but also long wait times between appointments, placing the region in the bottom quartile nationally for timely service delivery. This means participants often wait weeks or months between essential supports, worsening health outcomes and increasing stress for families.
Zoom Out
These findings suggest the NDIS faces systemic issues in regional and remote areas across Australia. The barriers seen in North Queensland are a microcosm of broader challenges in delivering equitable disability support outside major cities. Mark Woodland said, “The Kismet Care Index gives us the visibility to see what’s happening on the ground and right now, the picture in North Queensland is concerning.”
What To Look For Next?
One Community, now part of Kismet, will host a Ready-Set-Connect event on Tuesday 15 July 2025 at Brothers Leagues Club in Kirwan, Townsville. This free, interactive speed-networking event will connect local support coordinators, service providers, teachers, families, and people with disability. Don Elgin said these events are about “creating the connections that lead to real outcomes,” helping build stronger, more inclusive communities. The Kismet Care Index will continue to provide critical data for policymakers and providers, helping drive improvements in service delivery and access to care.
