National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1001
SUBMISSION ON THE NDIS AMENDMENT BILL
I am a family member and supporter of disabled children, and I also work in education supporting children with additional needs.
My main concern about this Bill is that it appears to place even more administrative burden, pressure and compliance expectations onto disabled people and their families at a time when many of us are already barely coping. From where I sit, this feels less like improving the system and more like making it harder for vulnerable people to access the support they already fight so hard for.
As a parent of neurodivergent children, I know firsthand how exhausting and consuming navigating the NDIS already is. We are already expected to become case managers, advocates, administrators and experts in disability law on top of being carers, parents and often workers too. Many families are operating in constant burnout and crisis. Adding more formal processes, stricter communication requirements and reduced flexibility will not create a better system — it will simply create more barriers for the people who need support most.
One of my biggest concerns is the proposed “not contactable” provisions. These changes do not appear to reflect the reality of disability, crisis, mental health struggles or caregiving. Families can miss phone calls or emails because they are in hospital, dealing with meltdowns, trying to prevent school refusal, attending appointments, managing housing instability, or simply surviving day to day life. Disabled people may also be unable to communicate consistently because of their disability itself. The idea that supports could be paused or affected because someone cannot engage within rigid timeframes is deeply concerning.
I am also worried about increased reliance on automated or standardised decision-making processes. Disability is not one-size-fits-all. Human beings are complex, and support needs change constantly depending on circumstances, burnout, mental health, schooling, family stability and safety. Systems that rely too heavily on standardisation risk overlooking the real lived experiences behind the paperwork.
The proposed changes to reassessments and plan reviews are another major concern. Families in crisis often need flexibility and urgent responsiveness. Restricting when changes can be made or making reassessments harder to access could leave people without appropriate supports during periods where they are most vulnerable. We are already seeing significant delays and administrative failures within the system. In my own experience, urgent reviews can take many months while families continue to deteriorate waiting for help.
What I want the committee to understand is that many disability families are not failing to engage because they do not care. They are overwhelmed because the system itself is already incredibly difficult to navigate. The families who will be most harmed by tighter compliance measures are often the families in the greatest need.
I also want the committee to understand that the emotional and administrative load placed on parents and carers is enormous and largely invisible. Every extra form, deadline, reassessment or reporting process takes time and energy away from caring for our children, supporting their emotional regulation, maintaining employment, and holding our families together.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1001
The NDIS was created to support disabled people to live with dignity and participate fully in society. Any reforms should strengthen flexibility, trust, accessibility and human-centred decision making — not increase fear, surveillance and administrative burden.
My position on this Bill is that I have serious concerns and do not support these proposed changes in their current form because I believe they risk causing significant harm to disabled people and families who are already struggling under the weight of the existing system.
Thankyou for reading my submission.
Kind regards,