National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1014
Submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future
Generations) Bill 2026
The Bill should be amended to stop the narrowing of supports to needs arising directly from eligible impairments.
As others have pointed out, the Bill narrows the link between a participant’s support needs and the impairment or impairments that made them eligible for the NDIS.
This creates a serious risk of insufficient supports and unacceptable consequences regarding proper care for people with complex and multiple impairments including those with severe and profound autism. Many of this cohort have complex presentations, complex communication or support needs and many have little or no functional language (or are non-verbal). Many of this cohort have challenging behaviours or behaviours of concern and high support needs. A significant number of this cohort have epilepsy.
It should be noted that for many in this cohort there are already NOT anywhere near enough appropriate services and service providers including providers of last resort. There is a shortage of trained and accredited practitioners and therapists with expertise and experience of autism.
In should also be noted that in Victoria the corporatization of disability services, the introduction and operation of the NDIS, the “departure” of a state government role in the service sector has meant that literally no one jurisdiction is truly and effectively accountable for service delivery. A business model has emerged that actively discourages providers from taking clients who are perceived as too resource intensive, even when a potential client’s funding would allow for significant supports to be provided. Centre-based disability services “pick and choose” whom they will admit to their programs, “cherry-picking” clients on the basis of “profit” rather than need.
The cohort with severe and profound disabilities with complex and high support needs require suitable programs. These programs may focus on community engagement, sport and recreation activities, occupational therapy and communication therapies, creative activities such as art and music, life skills training, appropriate volunteer work and further education options.
Need for avenues of Review
The Bill as drafted does not provide protections against arbitrary and harmful removal of funding and support from participants.
There must be proper independent avenues of review for participants and their families and carers when “bad” decisions are made to remove funding or supports.
Prepared by