National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 129
Submission: NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026 I write from the perspective of a parent nominee of a teenaged participant who requires substantial assistive technology.
Summary of my concerns:
- That one-off funding won’t be repeated in new plans, creating a risk where the participant is waiting for the item to be supplied or work to be completed.
- That cuts and caps to budgets will disproportionately impact people with physical disabilities who need therapists to script and adjust equipment.
- That cuts to community access for teenagers and adolescents will have a lifelong impact.
- That these risks, and others, are exacerbated by the lack of ability to request a review.
The need for unspent funds to be carried over to new plans. In recent years I have had to request for funding to be carried over to the new plan because I was still on a waiting list or work was underway and yet to be completed. I will outline these examples to illustrate my concerns.
Vehicle modifications to carry powered wheelchair:
• OT reports completed and submitted 2022 • Funding confirmed in a new plan 2024 • Vehicle modifier undertaking and completing the work 2026.
Major home modifications (Bathroom):
• OT reports completed and submitted 2024 • Funding for the builder and project manager confirmed in new plan 2025 • Work completed 2026.
Similar timeframes are likely to occur to participants accessing these types of services in the future. It’s important that the legislation allows for them to access the funding when the work is done and products are supplied.
Equipment (ie wheelchairs, wheelchair seating components, shower chairs) also often take 3-6 months to arrive after ordering. Suppliers usually require full payment up front. Sometimes I’ve been able to negotiate a deposit and final payment on supply. An increased risk of funding not being available due to plan changeovers will further reduce our ability to negotiate for our consumer rights.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 129
The disproportionate impact of cuts and caps to funding categories on participants with assistive technology needs. People requiring therapist input for equipment and home and vehicle modifications will be disproportionately impacted by the proposed reductions and caps in funding for budget categories.
For home modifications, funding is added to the plan for the builder to complete quotes, and for a project manager to oversee the work. An OT is required to scope the work, write extensive reports and recommendations, and then oversee selection and placement of equipment during construction to ensure it meets the person’s needs and appropriate standards. The OT hours are absorbed into the person’s allocated Capacity Building improved daily living budget
For home modification work to be scoped and completed at my home:
- The OT was paid more than 50% of my child’s total Capacity Building improved daily living budget for 12 months.
- While the invoices for this work came in across 3 different plans, the impact was significant across those 3 years.
- For 3 years, I have had to cancel and reduce other services that my child needs to prevent deterioration.
My child is a rapidly growing teenager. There are at least 6 pieces of seating and mobility equipment in my home that require:
- a physio or OT to monitor and adjust multiple times a year as my child grows, and
- Once replacements are required, the therapist organises trials of new equipment, assesses, and writes reports to submit to the agency for funding.
- This work is critical. There is discomfort and disruption, injury risk, risk of deterioration due to poor positioning.
- This time is prioritised, and there is little available budget remaining for the therapists to do hands-on activities and support to work towards maintaining and improving capacity and skills for daily living.
Under the proposed changes, the Capacity Building budgets will be cut by 10 percent by the minister in October 2026, with unknown further cuts and caps possible at any time. I don’t know how I will continue to prioritise my child’s needs with an underfunded budget, and have concerns for other people requiring home modifications and equipment.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 129
The impact of a 50% cut to social and community participation funding. With the right equipment and support workers, my teen is on a pathway to access and experience a typical and ordinary life alongside her peers. But that is under threat.
The proposed 50 percent cut in her community access budget from October this year will take away critical teenage experiences and will have a devastating impact on her adolescent development and wellbeing.
Imagine telling any other teenager:
- Your friends can leave the house as much as they want, but you are restricted.
- Your sports teammates and competitors can train and compete every week, but you can only go every 2 weeks because of a 50 percent cut to your assistant.
Then help me answer my teenager’s questions about life after school:
- How will they find a job, go to TAFE or university?
- How will they move out of home and live with autonomy?
Not long ago, I could answer those questions with a smile, and a true belief that anything would be possible. Now I feel sick at the thought that restrictions on funding are going to set us back decades. Low expectations, lack of opportunity. An impossible fight for access to what should be a basic human right.
The need for an avenue to review unfair decisions. The impact and risks I’ve outlined regarding funding cuts and restrictions are exacerbated by the removal of options to request a review. Please make consideration to the potential for people to be underfunded, at risk of deterioration or injury, and the inability to take action to correct their funding to meet their needs.