Submission
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
I am a Support Coordinator working with NDIS participants in Victoria, SA & WA. My connection to the scheme is direct and practical. Every day I work with people who rely on the NDIS to stay safe, stable, and connected to their communities. My role is to help participants understand their plans, coordinate their supports, and prevent small issues from becoming crises. I see firsthand what happens when the system works —andwhathappenswhenitdoesn’t.
Iammakingthissubmissionbecausethe proposed changesin thisBill will significantly affectthepeopleIsupport.Manyofmyparticipantsarealreadyreceivinglettersaboutreviews,receiving reductionsinthierplans,having coordinationremovedwithno replacement servicesorchanges theydo notunderstand.Iam alreadyseeingimpactmyday‑to‑adaywork.Onemyparticipantrecentlyhad planreviewcompletedwithoutthenNDIScontactingthematall.They had no opportunitytospeak,p provide evidenceoreven under stand whatawasbeingchanged.Support Coordination was removed completely handedbacktoaLACwho hadn assistedclient18 months prior myself being engaged asSupportCoordinator.alsohave multipleparticipantswhose funding has been reduced evenwherewere requesting increase support basic social participation access community‑based learning groups focused reading writing arithmetic –activities that were listedastheirgoals.Evenwefind appropriate providersorcouncil programs,the reducde hours mean simply cannot attend.Another participant requestedincrease insupporthours due falls risk also received reduction NDISfunding.This resultednotonebutTWO longterm hospital admittances.Now at home and still having minimalservicesdue to funding constraints.These are people who want build skills be part communities system making harder easier.The 203 independent review set out clear roadmap with recommendations actions stated plainly reforms must implemented whole. Foundational supports described nonnegotiable precondition before any tightening eligibility orreductions plansThosefoundationsupports do exist.Yet government proceeded major changesaccessand funding without explaining why abandoned the reviews instructions As someone works ground can say clearly systems meant catch outside NDIs not there.
The scale proposed cuts deeply concerning One hundred sixty thousand expectedremoved scheme averageplans reduce $5,000.None of this taken Australian people federal election mandate forchanges size families workers like me now left trying manage consequences.justificationfor these reformsinconsistent.Fraud accounted just per cent projected savings third came removing children fromscheme.On July minister told parliament billions being rorted At time
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1402
the confirmed fraud figure was $34.5 million across 72 active cases in a $42 billion scheme. Those two statements cannot both be true, and the evidence behind the claim has never been tabled before being tabled. In March 2026, the government voted down a Senate inquiry into NDIS fraud –-– the very issue it had used to justify these cuts. This has left workers like me with serious concerns about transparency. The consequences of underfunding are not theoretical. Noah Johnston died in December 2025 after his ventilator tube became dislodged overnight because the NDIA had not funded registered nurse present at bedside care, four-year-old Koa Gibson died when her nursing support reduced from three hours per week due to budget cut and her mother’s request emergency funding declined. These tragedies show what happens essential supports treated as optional. People autism make up nearly four five new entrants around half all participants The Productivity Commission – body that designed identified autistic people exactly population created serve. Claim they were meant covered false hearing repeated caused distress confusion many families I support economic argument also does hold NDIS returns Australian economy dollar spent cutting money shifts hospitals departments mental health services homelessness systems unpaid family carers most often women see this shift happening already Given seriousness reforms committee must require Government table full evidentiary basis July fraud claims explain statement billions rorted reconciled confirmed figure $34 million Also ask Committee explain on which basis proceeded eligibility changes described foundational review essential preconditions do exist Finally Changes taken Australian People election believes Committee must democratic basis government claims authority scale In closing, asked Committee pause reject Bill until foundations place requires transparent evidence used justify these reforms uphold rights commitments made disability NDIS was created The people cannot absorb consequences of these changes Systems them absorbing either Ask Committee consider real‑world impact lives behind decisions Thank you taking time read through submission.
Submission 1402
Margaret Rowlands