National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1412
Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Submitted by a grandparent of a participant May 2025
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1412
▍▓’s mother
\n### \u258D▓’s mother was a qualified teacher with two masters degrees in education. At the time she stepped away from full-time work after giving birth, she had been on track toward becoming an educational leader herself. In early years when began attending kindergarten or pre-school part-time to provide care while he/she developed specialized skills like Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC). The expertise has grown beyond his/her household into university courses and professional development programs across Australia where teachers are trained to help children who have complex communication challenges through AAC methods supported under the NDIS program which also enabled his/her mom pursue further studies related specifically towards this field resulting not just one but many educators over several decades improving outcomes of multiple students due largely because of such multiplier effect created via initial support provided initially.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1412
cannot be reduced to a generic package without real cost to her quality of life –and as thissubmissionhasdemonstrated,tolivesofthosearoundher. I understand and acceptthattheNDISmustbefinanciallysustainable.Thatisalegitimateconcern.However,sustainabilitycannotbeachievedbydenyingparticipantsthesupportsthataddresstheirgenuineneedsparticularlywheremeetingtheneedsas in ’s casegeneratessubstantialmeasurablebenefitsforfamiliescarers,andbroadercommunity.A narrowaccountingcostsandbenefitsthathconsidersonlythedirectexpenditureonaparticipantwithout accountingfortheflowoneffectswillsystematicallyundervalueScheme.
Conclusion
’ is fifteen years old.Sheattendsamainstreamschool, hasfriendsparticipateina rangeageappropriate socialactivities.Shecommunicatesthrough sophisticated assistivetechology.Shelivesathomewithfamily.Noneofoffwouldbepossiblewithout NDIs support.HerstoryalsoillustratessomethingInquiryshouldweighcarefully:then DISnotsimplyan expenditure onindividualswithdisability.Itisaninvestmentproducesoutcome across familiescommunitiesworkforce.Whensupportwellmatchedto individualneedreturnsextendfar beyond theparticipant.I respectfully urge Inquiry ensure reforms NDIS preserve principle genuine individuallsuppor –and that assessments Scheme’s value acknowledge full scope of benefits it generates. Endofsubmission