National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1326
Dear Sir/Madam
I am making this submission in regard to the proposed amendments being considered to the future generations Bill.
I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) with 38 years experience working in the disability sector.. I have been working in the NDIS sector since it commenced in Australia, so safe to say I have a lot of experience working with people with disabilities.
The importance of OT in helping people with disabilities maintain independence or retain independence cannot be overstated.
I see it every day in my work
Imagine for a moment: you are living and working as an able bodied person, then bang! You have a stroke or you fall and hit your head causing a brain injury ( just an example of 2 of my current participants)
Your life changes forever and you are now considered a person with a disability
After the initial spell in hospital and then rehab, that person reaches a point where they can be discharged back into the community. There is always pressure on hospital therapists to get people out of hospital, so time Ior therapy is limited.
But what happens next?? In steps the community NDIS OT to keep building on the gains made in hospital and continue to build capacity
The OT capacity building intervention is absolutely essential to help these people continue to regain function and regain independence.
What if this was your brother, your sister or even yourself? Do you not want to build their capacity to regain function and live their best life?
This scenario can happen to anyone.
Why is this government considering denying these people the opportunity to build their capacity so they can regain and maintain their functional ability.
Why is this government considered reducing social and community participation supports so people with disability cannot go to the shops, go to the local cafe, participate in community events? Why is this government deciding that people with a disability should not be able to participate in the community the same as able bodied people?
I urge you to rethink these proposed changes.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1326
Imagine yourself as the participant I have described above and ask yourself-are these proposed changes fair or right??
Thank you for reading my submission.
Kind regards