National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1052
RN CPSP
46 .com 17 214 383
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
I am a sole practitioner paediatric speech pathologist working with children and families across the Hunter region of NSW. My practice supports approximately 120 families annually, including children with developmental delay, autism, speech and language disorders and broader neurodevelopmental needs.
I support the need for reform to ensure the long-term sustainability and fairness of the NDIS. There should be stronger mechanisms to ensure funding is appropriately targeted, that supports remain evidence-based and functional, and that regular reviews occur where needs change over time. I also recognise the importance of reducing misuse of the scheme and ensuring supports are directed toward participants with genuine and significant disability-related needs.
However, I am deeply concerned about the potential impact of these reforms on young children requiring early intervention supports, particularly where foundational supports are proposed as an alternative to individualised allied health intervention before those systems are fully established, accessible and evidence-based.
In clinical practice, early intervention can significantly improve communication, participation, learning and social outcomes for children with developmental and neurodevelopmental needs. Many children currently accessing speech pathology supports through the NDIS present with functional communication difficulties that affect their ability to participate in preschool, school, relationships and everyday activities. Delays in access during critical developmental periods may have disproportionate long-term impacts on communication, school readiness, behaviour, social participation and later educational outcomes.
Many children benefiting from early intervention do not necessarily present with severe or permanent impairment at a young age, but still experience significant functional barriers requiring timely and targeted support. Effective early intervention may also reduce future reliance on more intensive educational, behavioural, mental health and disability supports over time.
While parent education, community programs and foundational supports may benefit some families, these approaches are not always sufficient for children with clear functional communication impairments requiring individualised assessment, goal-setting and intervention. There is currently significant uncertainty regarding the scale, accessibility, workforce capacity and consistency of proposed foundational supports across regions and
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1052
communities. Removing or reducing existing supports before replacement systems are fully operational risks creating substantial service gaps for children and families.
I am also concerned that reductions in access to individualised early intervention may disproportionately affect children from families already experiencing disadvantage. Families with greater financial resources may still be able to privately access speech pathology and developmental supports, while children from lower-income, socially disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable families may lose access to timely intervention altogether. In clinical practice, these are often the children who benefit most from structured, individualised and coordinated early intervention supports.
Children whose parents experience disability, mental health challenges, low literacy, social disadvantage or limited capacity to independently navigate complex systems may be particularly vulnerable if support pathways become more reliant on generic, short-term or self-directed models of care. Without accessible and adequately funded intervention, there is a risk that developmental gaps widen over time, leading to greater educational, behavioural and social difficulties in later childhood.
I am also concerned about the broader impact on small allied-health providers and sole practitioners. Many families currently rely on small local providers because they offer continuity, flexibility and practical collaboration with schools, preschools and caregivers. Rapid funding changes without adequate transition planning may reduce service availability and workforce stability, particularly in regional communities.
I respectfully recommend that: • children are not transitioned away from individualised NDIS-funded early intervention until replacement supports are fully operational, accessible and evidence-based • independent review and transparent decision-making processes remain available to families • functional communication and participation needs remain central to eligibility and support decisions • regular evidence-based reviews are used to reduce unnecessary supports where appropriate, rather than broad restrictions to access • equitable access to early intervention remains a priority for children and families experiencing social and economic disadvantage • small and regional allied health providers are considered within transition planning and future service design.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Bill and its potential impact on children, families and service providers.
Speech Pathologist