Bridging the gap: Social work practice challenges navigating support for families with disabilities

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has transformed the landscape of disability support in Australia, yet significant gaps remain, particularly for families in rural areas who have members requiring assistance but are yet to access NDIS packages. This paper explores reflections from five regional social workers about the challenges they faced supporting such families. Thematic analysis of the discussions identifies the invisible nature of working with families who require disability services but are yet to engage with the NDIS. The implication of this paper is that further research is required to better understand what is happening for services and their families who fall outside NDIS-funded services.
Keywords: disability, family services, NDIS, rural, social work.