National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1204
RE: Submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
I am writing as a disability support worker with over 20 years of experience supporting people with disability in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Over the course of my career, I have supported people with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, psychosocial disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and complex support needs. I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact the NDIS can have when people receive the right supports, but I am deeply concerned about aspects of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 and the impact these proposed changes may have on the people I support.
While I understand the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS and addressing fraud or misuse within the system, I believe several aspects of this Bill risk creating further barriers for people with disability and increasing fear and uncertainty for participants and families.
One of my biggest concerns is the proposed changes surrounding the definition of “permanence” and how disability is assessed for access to supports. In practice, disability does not always present in a simple or predictable way. Many of the people I support live with conditions that fluctuate, evolve over time, or are difficult to assess through narrow functional capacity measures. Despite this, their disabilities are still lifelong and have a profound impact on their daily lives.
The changes to the definition of permanence could have devastating consequences for many participants. I support people with psychosocial disabilities, neurological conditions, and chronic illnesses whose support needs may vary from day to day, but whose overall conditions are unlikely to fully resolve. These participants often already face significant barriers proving the legitimacy of their disabilities because they may not fit neatly into rigid medical categories or because their conditions fluctuate. Requiring additional evidence or creating stricter interpretations of permanence risks excluding people who genuinely need support.
For the people I support, these changes could mean:
• Increased stress and trauma from repeatedly having to prove their disability and justify their support needs. • Delays in accessing essential supports while waiting for reassessments or additional medical evidence. • Loss of funding for supports that allow them to live independently and safely. • Greater mental health deterioration due to uncertainty, instability, and fear of losing supports. • Increased reliance on family members, emergency services, hospitals, and crisis systems when preventative supports are removed.
I have seen firsthand how difficult and exhausting the current system already is for many participants to navigate. Many people with disability do not have the financial resources, advocacy support, or medical access required to continually provide extensive evidence about conditions that are already lifelong and disabling.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1204
I am also concerned about the increased powers to reduce or restrict supports, particularly social and community participation supports. People outside the disability sector often misunderstand these supports. In reality, they are essential for preventing isolation, building confidence, maintaining mental health, and developing independence. Over my 20 years in the sector, I have seen people move from being socially isolated and dependent to becoming active members of their communities because of consistent support and inclusion.
Reducing these supports may appear financially beneficial in the short term, but in practice, it risks worsening mental health outcomes, increasing hospital admissions, increasing carer burnout, and placing greater pressure on other already overstretched systems.
The proposed reduction to social and community participation budgets is particularly concerning because many participants already receive far less support than they genuinely need. Community access is not a luxury. It is often the only opportunity people have to maintain social connections, participate in society, and experience a meaningful quality of life.
I am also worried about the speed and scale of these reforms. Many participants, families, and workers are already experiencing significant anxiety and confusion about what these changes may mean for their futures. People with disabilities deserve genuine consultation, transparency, and adequate safeguards before major legislative changes affecting their daily lives are introduced.
From a workforce perspective, the disability sector is already under immense pressure due to workforce shortages, burnout, administrative burden, and funding uncertainty. Further instability within the system may drive experienced workers away from the sector and reduce continuity of care for participants. Consistency and trust between participants and support workers are critically important, especially for people with trauma histories, communication difficulties, or psychosocial disabilities.
I support efforts to address fraud and unethical providers within the NDIS. However, reforms should target misuse of the system without making access more difficult for genuine participants who rely on supports to survive, participate in society, and live with dignity.
The NDIS was created to support inclusion, independence, and equal opportunity for people with disability. I urge the Committee to carefully consider the lived experiences of participants, families, and frontline workers before implementing reforms that may unintentionally increase hardship, exclusion, and inequality.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Sincerely,
Jo Kot Disability Support Worker