National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 14
My name is Katrina Hartley and I live with my husband Bruce and my 4 grown up children in Mooroolbark Victoria.
My daughter Hanna depends on support workers every day for her self care and being to go out into the community. Hanna is a bright, colourful young woman, uses a wheelchair more mobility and she loves life.
Hanna is 26 and looking forward to moving into her own unit. If her NDIS funding is reduced or cut she will need to live at home forever. Hanna has worked very hard to be strong and well enough to live in a SDA with support workers.
When the NDIS came about it was a great relief to myself because for the first time I see a future of self choice for Hanna. The same as her brothers have.
The NDIS gave hope to my family that our lives would not always be taken up with caring for Hanna and we could have some normality. And relief that we can die peacefully without being consumed with who was going to take over the role of caring for Hanna.
Before the NDIS came about Hannas brothers knew that when Bruce and I passed on or were too old, decrepit to look after Hanna they would need to take on the role of being Hannas carers. I cannot explain how the daily mental anguish of having to pass this on to any of her siblings affected my wellbeing. And I know many other parents in the same situation who were having the same nightmare. I have given up my career and obviously source of income to be Hanna’s full time carer. There is no nest egg to retire on or use to buy a second family home for Hanna to live in or pay support workers wages.
The NDIS brought me peace knowing Hanna would have a choice of who she lived with and how she lived her life. And now I am again terrified that Hanna will have no choice .
There has to be a better way of dealing with the economic crisis rather than slashing NDIS budget the way the government currently choosing to do.
The NDIS has brought choice for Hanna on how to live and also choice for myself and family. It’s not just about funding support workers Before the NDIS we had to write and beg for philanthropic donations for Hanna’s Wheelchairs, adaptable equipment and home modifications.
I beg that the senate- government reconsiders the changes to the NDIA funding. I was a very proud citizen when Australia introduced such revolutionary reforms to support our disabled. How the fuck can you go back and destroy it in an equally record time.
Katrina and Hanna Hartley
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 14