Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia, Sophie Cusworth, Chief Executive, Women With Disabilities Australia and Dr Martin Laverty, Chief Executive, Aruma, will Address the National Press Club on “Reasonable or Necessary? Debating changes to the NDIS”.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme cost taxpayers $50 billion in 2025, and is on track by the end of the decade to cost more than Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme combined. The Albanese Government wants to change the NDIS to cut the cost of the scheme.
A contentious Bill to amend the NDIS Act has been criticised by some in the disability community as likely to cause harm to thousands of people with disability. Other disability sector leaders see NDIS cost control as essential for ongoing government and taxpayer support for the future of the NDIS. Meanwhile, State and Territory Governments have accused the Federal Government of creating false expectation the new Thriving Kids program will deliver like-for-like services to the NDIS.
Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting CEO People with Disability Australia
Megan Spindler Smith is the Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia, the national disability rights and advocacy organisation led by, and for, people with all kinds of disability.
Megan is a strategic, innovative and influential executive leader with more than two decades of experience driving inclusion, culture and change initiatives across the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. As a proud disabled person, they are passionate about advancing intersectional, rights-based change for people with disability at a national level, with a focus on accessibility, inclusion and participation.
Drawing on lived experience and a background in clinical, human-centred and organisational development, Megan has led national-level work to improve accessible media, strengthen inclusion and build cultures of respect and belonging across multiple sectors. They regularly engage with government, business and community organisations on disability rights, leadership, accessibility and systems change, bringing a practical and action-focused perspective to complex challenges.
Sophie Cusworth, Chief Executive, Women With Disabilities Australia
Sophie Cusworth is the Chief Executive Officer of Women With Disabilities Australia, the national Disabled People’s Organisation and National Women’s Alliance for women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities. A lawyer, policy professional and woman with disability, Sophie has a background in workplace relations, safeguarding and discrimination law, and academic training in Gender Studies. Since her appointment in 2024, she has led WWDA’s national policy and advocacy work across disability rights, gender equality, violence prevention, sexual and reproductive rights, the Disability Royal Commission, NDIS reform and Australia’s international human rights obligations. Sophie has represented WWDA in high-level national and international forums, including the United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and parliamentary inquiries.
Dr Martin Laverty, Chief Executive, Aruma
Dr Martin Laverty has worked in the not-for-profit disability sector for more than thirty years. He is the Chief Executive of not-for-profit disability organisation Aruma, one of the nation’s largest
NDIS providers. He served as an inaugural Board Director of the National Disability Insurance Agency from the inception of the NDIS in 2013 for eight years. He is a former Board Chair of Unisson Disability and Challenge Southern Highlands, and former Chief Executive of the NSW Muscular Dystrophy Assoiation. Prior to joining Aruma, Dr Laverty was Secretary General of the Australian Medical Association, Chief Executive of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and Chief Executive of Catholic Health Australia. Dr Laverty is a member of the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority’s Aged Care Committee, a Board Director of international aid agency Caritas and a Council Member of the University of Canberra. Dr Laverty has addressed the National Press Club on three previous occasions.
