National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1432
To those reviewing the proposed NDIS reforms,
I wanted to take the opportunity to provide feedback after spending some time reading about the proposed NDIS reforms.
Disability is something that has touched my life through my grandmother as well as many people around me who either live with disabilities themselves or work within the disability sector. Because of this, I have heard a lot of conversations over the years about the realities of navigating support services and how important they can be in allowing people to maintain independence and participate in everyday life.
People are more than assessment results
The proposed changes relating to planning and assessments are one of the things that stood out to me.
I understand the need for systems and guidelines, however I do not believe a person’s life can always be accurately reflected through paperwork or assessment outcomes.
Life changes constantly. Health changes. Mental wellbeing changes. Circumstances change. A person’s needs on one day may look completely different on another.
My concern is whether systems can sometimes become so focused on collecting information that they risk losing sight of the person the information is about.
Access to support should not feel conditional
I also have concerns regarding the proposed changes around eligibility and treatment expectations.
Medical decisions can involve fear, uncertainty, risks and difficult choices. I do not believe anyone should feel as though support is sitting on the other side of a decision they may not feel comfortable making.
People should be able to make decisions regarding their own health because they feel it is right for them, not because they are afraid of what could happen if they do not.
Participation in daily life should matter
The proposed changes relating to social and community supports also concerned me.
I think there can sometimes be an assumption that things such as social activities, hobbies and spending time with others are optional extras.
But being part of the world around you matters.
Feeling connected matters.
Having somewhere to go, people to see and things to look forward to matters.
I think these parts of life can sometimes be underestimated despite the impact they can have on a person’s happiness and wellbeing.
Families cannot carry everything
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1432
I also thought a lot about the proposed changes surrounding what may be considered necessary supports.
Families naturally step in because they care, but caring about somebody and having unlimited capacity to support and care for a person are not the same thing.
People can become physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed and financially stretched.
Support structures should exist alongside families rather than quietly replacing them.
Concluding thoughts
Reading through these proposed reforms left me thinking less about legislation and more about fairness.
Every person deserves respect, opportunity and the ability to participate in life in ways that are meaningful to them.
I hope these things remain at the centre of decisions moving forward.