Media Release

MND Australia welcomes landmark commitment to fast-track support for people living with MND 

Published: 03 June 2026

MND Australia has welcomed the Australian Government’s landmark commitment to ensure all people living with MND receive rapid assessment and funding, whether they rely on the NDIS or aged care for support.  

MND Australia CEO Clare Sullivan said the announcement was a significant recognition of the rapid, complex needs associated with one of the fastest progressing and most devastating neurological diseases. 

“This commitment recognises a simple truth: MND cannot wait,” Ms Sullivan said. 

“For people living with MND, support needs can change dramatically in weeks.  The announcement shows the Australian Government is willing to work at the speed of this disease. This is a change the MND community has been asking for and will celebrate.” 

The commitment from aged care to automatically classify all people diagnosed with MND aged 65+ under the ‘urgent’ priority means older Australians should receive aged care support within 30 days, rather than facing average waits of up to nine months. This increases care equity between older and young people living with MND.  

Importantly, the changes will also apply to people with MND who have already been assessed and are currently waiting for Support at Home funding, ensuring many Australians receive access to care sooner than expected.  

“This will make an immediate difference for older Australians with MND, many of whom have been forced to self-fund care, rely on exhausted family carers, or go without essential supports while waiting for packages to arrive,” Ms Sullivan said. 

MND Australia also welcomed the commitment to protect the NDIS MND Priority Pathway, which provides access to assessors with MND expertise, faster decisions and more responsive reassessments as needs change. 

“The MND Priority Pathway has been life-changing for people who enter the NDIS after diagnosis. Protecting it gives people with MND and their families greater certainty at a time when they are facing profound uncertainty,” Ms Sullivan said. 

MND Australia said the announcement follows sustained advocacy from the MND community, State MND Associations, people with lived experience, carers, clinicians and researchers. 

“We thank the Minister for hearing the concerns of the MND community and acting on them.” 

MND Australia also welcomed the announcement of a rapid review of the Support at Home prioritisation mechanism and looks forward to working with Government to ensure it delivers for people living with rapidly progressing conditions.