National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1178
Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
RE: Submission regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
To the Committee,
I am writing as a parent and carer of a child with significant disability support needs to express my concerns regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
While I understand the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS, I am deeply concerned that many of the proposed changes risk creating additional barriers for participants and families who already face significant daily challenges.
My child relies on the NDIS not for luxuries, but for essential supports that allow them to safely participate in everyday life, education, communication, emotional regulation, and the community. Without appropriate and flexible supports, families like mine are placed under immense emotional, financial, and physical pressure.
I ask the Committee to carefully consider the real-world impacts these reforms may have on children with complex developmental, behavioural, sensory, and communication needs, particularly autistic children and those with co-occurring disabilities.
My key concerns include:
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Reduced flexibility in supports Families need flexibility because disability needs do not fit neatly into rigid categories. Supports that may appear “non-essential” on paper can be critical for emotional regulation, safety, sensory processing, sleep, communication, and participation. Restricting access to supports without understanding the practical realities of disability risks causing harm and increasing long-term costs elsewhere.
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Increased administrative burden on families Parents and carers are already overwhelmed managing therapies, school meetings, medical appointments, behavioural challenges, reports, and daily care needs. Additional reassessments, evidence requirements, and uncertainty around funding place further strain on families already experiencing burnout.
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Impact on early intervention and children Early intervention is one of the most effective investments the NDIS can make. Delays, funding cuts, or restrictions on therapeutic and assistive supports for children can significantly affect long-term outcomes. Children should not lose access to supports simply because they do not fit narrow definitions.
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Concerns around vague definitions of “reasonable and necessary” supports Many families are worried that unclear wording may lead to inconsistent decisions and reduced access to practical supports that genuinely improve quality of life. Families need transparency, consistency, and confidence that decisions will be made fairly and with proper understanding of disability.
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Lack of trust and consultation with disabled people and carers People with disability, carers, and families must remain central to any reform process. Policies made without meaningful consultation risk creating systems that look efficient administratively but fail participants in practice.
I respectfully ask the Committee to ensure that: participant wellbeing remains the core focus of the NDIS; children with developmental disabilities continue to receive timely early intervention supports; assistive technology, sensory supports, and low-cost regulation supports remain accessible; reforms do not increase stress and barriers for families; autistic people, disabled people, carers, and advocacy groups are genuinely consulted before major changes are implemented. The NDIS has changed lives by giving people with disability greater access, dignity, inclusion, and independence. I strongly urge the Government to protect these outcomes while pursuing sustainability measures.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1178
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,
Joanna Hayes