National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1081
SUBMISSION FOR THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AMENDMENT (SECURING THE NDIS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS) BILL 2026
What the NDIS means for my family right now
I have three autistic young adult children. Two of whom have intellectual disabilities and two experience extreme anxiety to a point where they do not go out without someone with them.
I am their sole carer and on a carers pension and allowance. In today’s cost of living, it is nearly impossible to survive on this money to feed us all. If I was to pay for even a gap fee for the providers my children need on a daily basis, we would not eat, have petrol, power or gas in our home, not to mention be able to pay rent.
NDIS funding assists my family by covering supports we could otherwise never afford. OT sessions alone cost approximately $200 each, and all three of my children require this therapy. Psychology sessions for emotional regulation and social interaction support are also extremely expensive.
My eldest has severe anxiety linked to his autism so doesn’t leave the house without myself or his support worker. He doesn’t even feel okay with going to see his grandparents 20 mins away. This is being worked on by his psychologist and support worker. At 23 he does not feel okay with going out with his mum all the time so the support worker is someone he connects with and is happy to go get a meal or go try something new that may convince him to leave the house more often.
My youngest is 18. She struggles with speaking to anyone she doesn’t know very well. So, if she goes anywhere, just to buy a drink someone needs to order for her and encourage her to try to speak to the person behind the counter. Her support worker is working on this constantly by just going out to quiet shops etc and getting her to try and speak to staff.
These supports are helping build her functional capacity, independence, communication skills, and ability to safely participate in the community. Without these supports, she would become increasingly isolated and dependent on family for all daily interactions.
Without this funding she would be at home unable to speak to anyone, including emergency personnel. So, if she was in danger, she would not be able to speak to a Police officer or Ambulance officer. The most she will do at the moment is say “Hello”. The other thing we have identified is she has no idea about budgeting and money. She sees a figure in her bank and just spends. I have now taken over her money, so she has money for the whole fortnight. She is looking at budgeting with all her supports so she can gain this skill and able to learn how to control her own money in time.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1081
My two younger ones are learning how to perform in the workplace in finding and keeping a job. My son has issues with staying on task and saying appropriate things in front of customers. My daughter spent 6 weeks in Woolworths and has learned a lot of things that she should not do in the workplace through the consultant being with her every step. These services cost approximately $200 per session. They go to these sessions twice a week each for three hours a session.
While I agree the NDIS needs to be controlled better. Try to investigate the fraudulent providers that are charging for services not performed or ones who are over charging like lawn mowing services that charge private customers $100 but because it is invoiced to the NDIS, they charge a lot more.
Proposed changes and how do I feel about them? What would they mean to my family?
I am concerned the proposed reforms may place too much focus on reducing participant supports rather than addressing provider overcharging and fraud.
I would have to take my kids everywhere and work on all their needs at once. Where having the support workers doing these tasks eases for me to concentrate on things within the home.
If you take away any of my children’s services I feel they would become extremely isolated and become more depressed and even at risk of suicide as the statistics are not on their side. One of my children already has suicide ideation because he doesn’t understand why people do certain things. This is why they need services like psychology to keep them moving forward and not focusing on what they can not understand.
If services are taken off NDIS, we as a family would not be able to afford the services ourselves and therefore become a very isolated family.
Reducing essential supports risks worsening mental health outcomes, increasing isolation, and placing significant pressure on families and carers already struggling to cope.
Before NDIS my children did not attend much therapy as I could not afford the services gap fees. I would push it all back until I could get the money together.
Support coordinators should be essential part of a plan for families with more than one family member with a disability as LAC’s are so busy that you can NEVER contact them for anything in between reviews. I am in contact with our coordinator on a weekly basis as my kids have so many needs and I am always reviewing my
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1081
providers to ensure they are doing their jobs properly and not wasting our time and funding.
There should not be cancellation fees for sicknesses as you can get a stomach bug overnight, yet many providers want 48 hours’ notice. I understand if it is another conflicting appointment, then yes 48 hours’ notice but if sick with a certificate no charge. They expect someone to know in advance when they are going to be sick.
I know without psychology, OT, physio, support workers, finding and keeping a job programs, and autistic aimed activities in the community, my children would become far more isolated and unable to continue developing important life skills.
If the funding were to reduce or disappear my children’s mental health would significantly deteriorate due to increased isolation, anxiety and loss of community participation.
I would be on stronger antidepressants and anxiety meds trying to cope with them all myself with their different needs etc. I currently take antidepressants due to the load of care on my shoulders alone, all the supports assist with this and prevent carer burnout for me.
My kids’ father has nothing to do with them, and we only have my elderly parents who can barely walk due to their age.
Please ensure reforms focus on addressing provider fraud and overcharging without reducing essential services for participants genuinely relying on the scheme.
Autism is a permanent disability that sticks with a person for life. My eldest has gotten worse as he has gotten older due to being more aware of how he does not fit in with the rest of the world.
Disabilities such as autism and intellectual disability often involve challenges that are not immediately visible to others. These can include masking behaviours, fluctuating support needs, hidden disabilities, difficulties with adaptive functioning, lifelong vulnerability, and significant social isolation despite being labelled as having “mild” support needs.
People with disabilities already face significant daily challenges, and many families fear reduced supports will further limit independence, participation, and quality of life.
Many individuals appear capable in short assessments or controlled environments but continue to require substantial daily support to participate safely and meaningfully in the community.
Support needs should be assessed based on real-world functioning and long-term capacity, not solely on diagnosis labels, IQ scores, or a participant’s ability to temporarily mask their difficulties.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1081
Many neurotypical people do not experience the same daily barriers with communication, social interaction, emotional regulation, and community participation
For many participants, funded supports are the only practical way they can safely access the community, employment and essential services.
Conclusion
In closing, I ask the Government to reconsider reforms that reduce essential participant supports while provider overcharging and fraud remain major concerns.
For families like mine, NDIS supports are not luxuries — they are essential for safety, mental health, independence, community participation, and future employment opportunities.
Autism and intellectual disability are lifelong conditions with support needs that are not always visible. Removing or reducing supports risks increased isolation, mental health decline, carer burnout, and long-term social and economic costs.
I strongly support greater auditing of providers, fairer pricing structures, and stronger fraud prevention measures rather than reducing essential supports for participants who rely on the scheme to live meaningful lives.