National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1044
To-Whom-It-May-Concern, Many years ago our then GP said, “I always listen to mothers as nobody knows her child like a mother!” Decades on this still Applies! M was diagnosed as severely Bipolar 1 in his middle twenties. This illness cost him his career, the apartment he was buying, relationships and quality of life. The following period of nearly two decades were an extremely unpleasant roller coaster ride – frequenthospital stays, (some scheduled),-medication over doses, (one of which nearly took his life!) and times when we didn’t know where he was! Often, he was living in undesirable conditions – unkept and not clean. His diet was poor! He was isolated, having no desirable socialisation. An absolute “god send” came when he was placed on the NDIS, especially when “Real Life Assistance” became his provider! The quality of his life improved so much, as his package provided desperately needed house cleaning, socialisation through support worker activities and an absolute gem in having regular sessions with a psychologist which would be completely unaffordable if he was only on his disability pension! Another major setback, if he lost NDIS funding, would be where he lives! M lives in Public Housing. As he is on the NDIS he gets ten year leases, where as he would only get five year leases if not on the NDIS! How could he possibly afford rent in the private market, if only receiving a DisabilityPension! This would be a return to the “bad old days”! - M now has quality of life and we, his parents, now have more peace of mind, (we are now 78 and 80!). It would be more than disappointing if he lost his NDIS support measures!A -return to what M ’s life was like before being on the NDIS, would be potentially devastating for him!Mother. - .-