Families concerned over axing of local NDIS-funded program

An NDIS-funded service supporting people with disabilities in the Albury-Wodonga region will cease operations next month, with provider Aspire Support Services citing financial non-viability. The Lifestyle & Learning Service, which assists approximately 110 individuals through group day programs focused on activities like woodwork and cooking, will discontinue from August 28.

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As a not-for-profit organisation, we need to carefully balance our impact in the community with the funding available to us.

Personnel Group CEO John Gibbons, whose organization merged with Aspire Support Services in 2025, stated that despite ongoing investment, the service is not sustainable. "As a not-for-profit organisation, we need to carefully balance our impact in the community with the funding available to us," he said. Gibbons added that the service runs at a significant loss, and upcoming changes to NDIS funding from October 1, 2026, will further impact its operating environment.

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The service continues to run at a significant loss, and proposed changes to NDIS funding from 1 October 2026 will further impact our operating environment.

Aspire stated the decision is not a reflection on the service or its staff, and they will assist families in transitioning to other local providers. The service will continue without interruption until its closure. Gibbons assured that Aspire remains committed to people with disabilities in the region and will support those affected by the change. Accommodation, plan management, and family services will not be affected.

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Our priority over the coming weeks is the people affected, and the service will continue without interruption until it closes.

However, families express concern about the impact of the closure. Colleen Severs, whose son has been an Aspire client for 18 years, worries about clients who struggle with change and potential behavioral issues when their environment shifts. She noted that not all providers offer the same opportunities, and finding suitable alternatives could be challenging. Severs also voiced concerns about the potential scarcity of providers if others make similar cuts, leading to a growing unmet demand.

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There's a lot of other clients who really struggle with change [and will] struggle with behavioural issues, which when you change their environment is a bit of a trigger.