Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Australia

Dear Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee,

I am writing to share my concerns about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024. I am a family member of a person with disability.

The NDIS is very important to me. It helps my daughter to be a part of a wider community, both social and capacity building (including preparing to join the work force). Without the support from NDIS my daughter would definitely not be the young woman she is today! Being able to access certain supports has enriched her life in such a positive and healthy way. Her mental health and physical health has improved so much over the years, and continues to do so.

I am worried about the following parts of the Bill:

• Reasonable and Necessary Budgets Changing from ‘reasonable and necessary supports’ to ‘reasonable and necessary budgets’ will limit the supports people can get. People need support to live an ordinary life.

• Narrower Definition of Supports The new definition of supports are too narrow. It will exclude important supports that people need to be part of the community and achieve their goals.

Increased Powers for the NDIA

The NDIA would have more power to make people undergo assessments or provide information. If people do not comply, their plans could be suspended or revoked. This could be very hard for people with disability, especially during a crisis or if we have complex needs.

Restrictions on Self-Managing Funding

The NDIA could stop people from self-managing their funding if they have made mistakes before. This goes against the principle of choice and control.

I also have other concerns about the Bill:

As NDIS recipients have been able to progress over the years with having access to various forms of therapies (including animal assisted learning, animal assisted therapy, animal assisted education, animal assisted activities, and any somatic therapies…), to not be able to access these now would be absolutely catastrophic for these people!!

There would be loss of independence, an increase in mental health issues, a lowering of self esteem and a feeling of belonging, a decrease in confidence, a decline in physical health and welbeing, less chance of finding suitable employment. These therapies are VITAL for people with disabilities as well as being VITAL for those that support these people (family, friends, support workers etc), as these therapy sessions enable those with disabilities to not feel frustrated, angry, alone, useless,…therefore allowing them to feel part of society and more accepting of support when needed.

Submission Regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill

Overall, I am worried that this Bill moves away from the original vision of the NDIS. The NDIS is meant to give people with disability choice and control over their supports. This Bill is more focused on saving money than helping people with disability.

I think the Bill should be paused or stopped. There should be real co- design with people with disability. We need changes that truly meet the needs of people with disability.

I urge the Committee to recommend significant changes to this Bill or making other moves to save money. There must be thorough consultation with people with disability and our representative organisations.

The NDIS is too important to get wrong. We must get this right, with people with disability at the centre of the process.

Thank you for considering my submission. I would be happy to provide more information if needed.

Yours sincerely,

Tracey Sparkman