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Citizens walk around a lake in downtown Sydney, Australia. / Photo via EPA, Yonhap News

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia is drawing international attention as the government operates it to support care and treatment costs of up to 1.3 million Australian dollars (approximately 1.4 billion won) annually for early-onset dementia patients diagnosed under the age of 65. However, points are being raised that patients and their families face significant difficulties due to the rigorous approval process.

According to Australia's SBS News on the 1st (local time), while the NDIS functions as a reliable system that prevents household collapse caused by caregiving burdens, passing the eligibility screening is extremely difficult due to a highly strict and complex budget approval process.

In fact, Luke, whose husband of Lisa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 47, eventually hit his limit while balancing work and caring for his wife while raising three children. As the home environment became hazardous, Luke requested government assistance and recently secured an annual support package worth approximately 1.2 billion won from the NDIS following years of legal and administrative procedures.

"I had to spend more than 15 hours every week clinging to administrative paperwork," Luke recounted, expressing that "I barely received the approval after practically begging the relevant agencies." He shared that his wife was finally allocated a tailored specialist disability accommodation after he sent a petition letter to his local member of parliament to seek help.

Sophie, another applicant, also complained about the psychological distress endured during the evaluation process. She pointed out the harshness of the administrative procedures, stating, "To prove how helpless and in need of support my husband is—despite looking perfectly fine on the outside—I had to expose every detail of my family's deepest privacy and vulnerabilities."

Australia operates a dual welfare system. The government manages senile dementia patients with onset at age 65 or older under the general aged care system, whereas it has legislated lifelong support through the NDIS for patients under 65, aiming for their return to social activities and improvement in quality of life. David Cullen, a former chief economist for the NDIS, explained, "Unlike the aged care system, the NDIS does not weigh cost-effectiveness but focuses entirely on maximizing an individual's social participation and quality of life."

However, the projection that the NDIS budget will expand from its current scale of 49 billion Australian dollars (about 50 trillion won) to up to 100 billion Australian dollars (about 108 trillion won) remains a challenge to be addressed. Cullen noted, "This is a point where social discussion considering sustainability concerns and the tax burden on younger generations is required."

Meanwhile, according to Dementia Australia, the number of dementia patients in Australia currently reaches approximately 446,500, among whom early-onset patients under 65 are tallied at around 29,000. Dementia already ranks as the leading cause of death in Australia.

Experts emphasized, "Although there is no cure, if a proper government financial support system backs them up, both patients and their families can continue positive lives while maintaining their dignity."

                                                                                                             Lee Dae-won