National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission: Submission 1397 Date: May 28th,

Submission to the Senate Inquiry – NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations)

Bill To Committee: My name is redacted , as a sole parent primary caregiver four children including two disability participants. bachelor-trained early childhood teacher studying Master’s degree in child development special education alongside lived experience carer professional knowledge child development disability inclusion intervention youngest daughter three years old lives Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type cerebral palsy cannot walk talk uses wheelchair mobility high support needs significant care supervision throughout day night older daughter eight years Autism Spectrum Disorder speech communication difficulties writing this submission because deeply concerned about proposal within NDIS Amendment Securing future generations particularly relating reasonable necessary supports increased reliance unpaid caregivers family supports plan reassessments end dates restrictions around change circumstances stricter permanence treatment requirements automated decision-making tighter controls community participation capacity-building supports understand importance ensuring long-term sustainability of NDIS however must not achieved shifting greater burden families experiencing exhaustion financial hardship isolation believe many proposed changes fail reflect reality caring complex disabilities especially low-income like mine.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1397

Concerns About Changes to “Reasonable and Necessary” Supports and Increased Reliance on Unpaid Carers

I am extremely concerned about proposed changes that may reduce support categories, tighten access to supports, or increase expectations on unpaid carers. Families like mine are already doing everything we can. There is a limit to what one person can physically and emotionally sustain. The care required for my three-year-old goes far beyond normal parenting. She requires constant supervision and support for her safety, daily functioning and development. As her sole parent and primary carer, I already carry enormous physical, emotional and financial pressure while also supporting my other children’s needs. The NDIS has not “replaced parenting.” It has helped make survival possible. The support worker hours funded through my three-year-old’s NDIS plan have allowed her to access the community, build developmental skills and participate in life outside the home. Those supports also provide essential assistance in my caring role at home and reduce the risk of severe burnout. Without those supports, I would be doing almost all care entirely alone. Reducing support worker hours or narrowing what is considered ‘reasonable and necessary’ will not remove disability or reduce care needs. It will simply shift more pressure onto exhausted families, particularly mothers and sole parents. If supports are reduced:

• My physical and emotional exhaustion will increase significantly,
• My child’s safety may be compromised
• My financial situation will worsen because my ability to work is already heavily limited
• Myself and my children will become more isolated
• My eight-year-old will fall further behind in speech and communication development -my three-year-old will fall further behind in all areas of development
• Our family’s mental health and wellbeing will deteriorate These are not hypothetical concerns. This is the reality that families face now.

Concerns About Plan Reassessments, Plan End Dates and Restrictions on Changes of Circumstances

I am also concerned about proposed changes relating to reassessments, plan end dates, and restrictions around changes of circumstances. Children’s needs change

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1397

rapidly, especially in early childhood. Disability does not remain static. Development, therapies, equipment needs, health complications and family circumstances can all change quickly. Families should not be trapped in rigid systems that fail to respond to genuine changes in need. The uncertainty of reassessments already creates enormous stress for families. Living with the constant fear that essential supports may be reduced or removed has a serious impact on mental health and stability.I am also concerned that stricter reassessment systems may make it harder for families to respond when support needs increase unexpectedly.Concerns About Permanency Criteria and Requirements to Exhaust Treatment OptionsI am deeply concerned about any requirement that families must prove they have tried “all appropriate treatments” before receiving support.Families of children with disabilities already spend huge amounts of time attending therapies, specialist appointments and assessments.Adding further barriers risks delaying vital support during critical developmental years.Not every disability can be“fixed”or significantly improved through treatment.Children should not have to provethey are disabled enough or exhausted enough before receiving support.Similarly,stricter permanence criteria fail to reflect the complexity of childhood disability.Early intervention matters precisely because children are still developing. Concerns About Automated Decision-Making I strongly oppose increased automated decision-making within the NDIS.Families deserve to be assessed by real people who understand the complexity of disability and individual circumstances.Disability cannot be reduced to a checklist or algorithm.Automated decisions risk causing serious harm,particularly for vulnerable familiesalready struggling to navigate a complex system.Existing Difficulties Accessing SupportsEven under the current system, accessing supports has already been difficult.

I initially had appropriate support worker hours rejected despite my daughter’s high supportneeds.Her wheelchair was also initially rejected before eventually being approvedthrough the appeals process.These experiences were exhausting and stressful at atime when my energy needed to be focused on caring for my children.This demonstrates thatfamilies are already fighting hard for necessary supports.Further restrictions,reassessmentsand compliance measures will only make this harder.What I Want the Committee to UnderstandIdo not believe many policymakers trulyunderstand what life is likefor low-incomeamiliescaring forthildren withcomplex disabilities.TheNDISisnot fundingluxuries.It funds safety, care, developmentcommunication,inclusion anda basic qualityoflife.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1397

These supports are the difference between:

• participation and isolation
• safety and risk
• sustainability and burnout
• development and regression When governments reduce supports, families absorb the consequences physically, emotionally and financially. Children with disabilities should not pay the price for attempts to reduce costs. Recommendations:
  I urge the Committee:\n* Protect funding for support worker hours, community participation \and early intervention supports.
  Ensure unpaid carers are not expected to replace funded disability supports. Maintain flexible access to supports when circumstances change.* Reject overreliance on automated decision-making.* Ensure “reasonable and necessary” definitions do not unfairly restrict essential Supports.* Avoid creating additional barriers through excessive permanency or treatment requirements.* Protect access to therapies and communication supports for children with developmental disabilities.* Ensure reassessment processes do not destabilise vulnerable families.* Ensure low-income sole parent carers are meaningfully considered in all future NDIS reforms. Conclusion I support long-term sustainability of the NDIS but cannot come at expense of Safety wellbeing dignity Children Disabilities Families. As a sole parent already carry enormous caring responsibilities every day The NDIS has provided that allows my children participate life.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1397

I am writing regarding concerns about how certain amendments might impact our ability