Gardening Australia designer fears changes to his support plan

By Wade Stephens

ABC Central Victoria

Disability Access

Mon 29 Jun 2026 at 8:23am

Joshua Ruff was on Gardening Australia in 2025 for designing a garden at a Central Victorian lavender farm.

In short:

A garden designer with Duchene muscular dystrophy says changes to his support plan put his life at risk.

Joshua Ruff says the National Disability Insurance Agency took away his ability to choose and manage his support team.

What's next?

Mr Ruff fears he will end up in hospital due to a lack of trained staff to care for him on his rural property.

A Central Victorian man says the National Disability Insurance Agency robbed him of dignity and is risking his life with changes to his plan.

Joshua Ruff, 33, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and lives in Maldon on a lavender farm he designed, featured on ABC TV's Gardening Australia.

Joshua Ruff was on Gardening Australia for designing his garden at a lavender farm in Central Victoria.

Mr Ruff uses a wheelchair and has been self-managing his support package since 2017, including paying family members to help care for him.

A health scare

Mr Ruff had a cardiac arrest in March and needed a long hospital stay.

It resulted in a tracheostomy and full respiratory support.

Joshua has been self-managing his plan since 2017, until it was reviewed after a hospital visit in March.

Mr Ruff asked for a plan review on his release from hospital due to additional needs.

But the NDIA converted his plan from self-managed to agency-managed against his wishes.

The NDIA also told Mr Ruff he could no longer engage family members as his paid support workers.

Joshua Ruff, surrounded by his family, during a Gardening Australia episode in 2025.

An NDIA representative said the NDIA would only pay family members to deliver support in 'exceptional circumstances'.

The NDIA will work with Mr Ruff and his family to identify suitable support providers.

The NDIA has been contacted for comment.

Still capable

Mr Ruff said the sudden decision came without 'genuine consultation', and robbed him of autonomy and dignity.

The current supports have been there for five or six years and they understand my conditions.

I rely completely on the supports I have built around me to stay alive and live with dignity.

In his regional community, specialist disability workers are scarce.

He said the NDIA had not provided him any assistance to transition to a new model.

I have been left to navigate a system I did not choose and is actively failing me.

Joshua has been living with a tracheostomy tube since his cardiac arrest in March.

Mr Ruff says his cardiac arrest and tracheostomy tube have had no affect on his mental capacity.

My cognitive abilities have not changed.

I pay for all my support, I manage the rostering, and I do everything that keeps my life how I've set it up.

His treating specialists at the Austin Hospital had assessed and endorsed his support workers.

Joshua Ruff wants to maintain his autonomy by self-managing his plan.

I'm very overwhelmed and frustrated in the way I've been treated.

New plan 'not safe'

Mr Ruff's support coordinator wrote to the NDIA saying he believed the new plan put his client's life at risk.

These changes place Joshua at immediate and significant risk of serious harm and potential loss of life.

The removal of self-management and the prohibition of remunerating family members introduces a critical breakdown in continuity of care.

Joshua says he wants to maintain agency over how his plan supports him.

Disruption of this model without an equivalent replacement pathway is not safe.

Plan switches 'not uncommon'

People with Disability Australia interim president Jarrod Sandell-Hay said shifts in NDIS package managements are happening too often.

Choice and control is at the heart of the NDIS and self-management plays a big part in that.

People have a right to decide who comes into their home and who touches their body.

Plan management is the secret to make that all happen.

Having this becoming less common is a big risk and a big failure of our system built on choice and control.

Mr Ruff has contacted his local federal MP Lisa Chesters for assistance.

Mon 29 Jun 2026 at 8:23am

Mon 29 Jun 2026 at 10:36am

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