Role
The NDIS Review recommended establishing an EAC to provide government clear, evidence-based advice on NDIS supports. The advice will improve participant outcomes and strengthen the NDIS by focusing on:
- benefits
- safety
- quality
- value for money.
The EAC will review evidence on disability supports and recommend which supports should, or should not, be funded by the NDIS. It may also advise when supports should only be funded in certain circumstances or for specific disability types, and make provisional recommendations when evidence is limited.
The EAC will not assess:
- disability support, medical or aged care workers
- businesses, commercial products or consumer protections
- individual eligibility or plans.
3 technical subcommittees will support the EAC:
- Assistive Technology and Capital
- Capacity Building and Therapies
- Economics.
Read the terms of reference for more details.
We will support the EAC and a cross-agency steering committee to set an annual work plan. This was endorsed by the Disability Reform Ministerial Council.
Members
EAC and subcommittee members bring experience from many fields, including allied health practice, nursing, clinical research, education, medicine, law, social work, and business. Members include people with disability and lived experience of disability, including carers.
See details of current members
Assessment process
The EAC and its technical subcommittees follow a 4-phase process to assess NDIS supports. They consider all factors before forming their advice.
Learn more about the assessment process
How people with disability can get involved
We regularly ask people with disability for their views on which supports the EAC should review.
Art and music therapy review
The NDIA released an Independent Review into pricing for music and art therapy supports in 2025. Dr Stephen Duckett AM led the review. It recommended that the EAC assess the evidence for art and music therapy for specific groups as part of its 2025–26 work plan.
In response, we will include both art and music therapy in the EAC’s 2025–26 work. An independent expert research group will review the evidence for therapies.
We also ran a public consultation on art and music therapy, which closed on 20 January 2026. We asked for feedback on what the evidence review should cover and to collect lived experience to inform the EAC’s work. We will use relevant feedback from earlier consultations and welcome new submissions, even if you have contributed before.
We will give the EAD a summary of the consultation and the evidence review. The EAC will use this information to advise the Australian Government on the safety, suitability and value for money of art and music therapy as NDIS supports.
Resources
Contact
