An NDIS-funded program supporting around 110 people with disability in the Albury-Wodonga region is set to close at the end of August, with families and advocates raising serious concerns about the impact on some of the area's most vulnerable residents. Aspire Support Services has confirmed it will discontinue its Lifestyle & Learning Service from August 28, citing ongoing financial losses and looming changes to NDIS funding.
Why the NDIS-Funded Program Is Closing
Aspire Support Services, which merged with Personnel Group in 2025, offers group day programs including activities such as woodwork and cooking, designed to help participants build confidence and practical life skills. Despite sustained investment in the service, the organisation says it has proven financially unworkable.
Personnel Group CEO John Gibbons said the service had been operating at a significant loss, and that proposed changes to NDIS funding due to take effect from 1 October 2026 would further worsen the operating environment.
"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," Mr Gibbons said.
He stressed the decision was not a reflection on the quality of the service or its staff, and confirmed that Aspire's accommodation, plan management and family services would remain unaffected. You can read more about how NDIS guideline changes affect participants and what they need to know going forward.
Families Anxious About Finding the Right Match
For many families, the closure is more than a logistical hurdle — it threatens the stability that their loved ones depend on. Colleen Severs, whose 35-year-old son has been an Aspire client for nearly 18 years, said the service had played a pivotal role in helping him develop everyday skills, from cooking to participating in sport.
While she acknowledged that Aspire had communicated openly and supportively with her family throughout the process, Ms Severs expressed worry about clients who may struggle far more with the transition.
"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," she said. "Not every provider gives you those same opportunities, so it's going to be a matter of finding one that's going to match [for them]."
Ms Severs also voiced broader concern about what might happen to the local support landscape if other providers in the region faced similar financial pressures and made comparable cuts.
Advocates Warn of Wider Consequences for Disability Families
Disability and mental health advocate Hollie-Ann Newman, who relocated to Albury from the Gold Coast three years ago specifically because of its housing affordability and access to disability supports, said her family had no informal or family support network to fall back on.
Ms Newman, who serves on the board of the Australian Neurodivergent Parents Association, said her family relied heavily on preschool, Aspire, and other NDIS providers to help her son participate in the community.
"It's currently funding his transition to school, which for a child with his profile is a huge, high-stakes step that needs specialist support to get right," she said.
Her situation underlines just how critical continuity of NDIS support providers meeting health and participation needs can be for families with no other safety net.
What Happens Next for Clients and Staff
Mr Gibbons said Aspire's priority in the coming weeks would be ensuring the people affected by the closure were supported, with the service continuing to operate without interruption until its final day. The organisation has committed to helping both clients and staff transition to other local providers.
"We remain committed to people with disability in our region, and to supporting everyone affected by this change with the care they deserve," he said.
Families in the Albury-Wodonga area are now faced with the task of identifying alternative providers capable of delivering the same tailored, group-based programs — a challenge that advocates warn may not have a straightforward solution for everyone involved.
