National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1441
Subject: What the NDIS means to our family - feedback on the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill 2026
to the Senate Committee,
I’m writing to share what the NDIS means to me and my daughter right now, and what the proposed changes to the NDIS Act would mean for her life and mine.
Right now, my daughter ’s NDIS plan is what makes it possible for her to work toward real goals - leaving the house independently, walking her dog, getting to medical appointments, and eventually pursuing study or volunteering. Without it, those things feel completely out of reach. The support she receives isn’t a luxury. It’s what bridges the gap between where she currently is and where she wants to be.
On the proposed changes - I don’t feel they have been explained clearly enough, and the timeline for community consultation has been far too short. The language used is complex, and for many participants, including , navigating that kind of information is genuinely difficult. Clearer, more accessible communication is not optional - it’s essential.
I am particularly alarmed by the proposal to cut social and community participation budgets by 50%. For , social and community supports are not optional extras - they are what help her engage with the world outside our home. Removing or halving them would mean greater isolation, a heavier burden on our family as informal carers, and a significant setback to the independence she has been working so hard to build.
The proposed 10% reduction to capacity building daily activities is equally concerning. These supports are the ones that actually make a significant difference - they’re not about maintaining the status quo, they’re about building toward independence. has made meaningful progress because she has been able to work consistently with support workers who know her well and connect with her. She struggles with change, and the ability to choose and maintain those relationships has been central to her progress. Any reduction in this budget - or any change that limits her choice of provider - would be very detrimental to that progress.
The proposal to end plans with no carryover of unspent funds is also deeply worrying. Life with disability is unpredictable, and the ability to carry over funds provides a safety net that allows families like ours to plan and respond to changing needs without the pressure of spending to a deadline.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1441
For and for our whole family, if these changes proceed as proposed, the support load does not disappear - it simply falls back on us. We are already carrying a significant load. Cutting the supports that give and our family some relief would push that further, with real consequences for everyone’s wellbeing.
Removing or reducing these supports now would not save money in the long run. It would simply delay and deepen the need - and increase the cost of crisis support down the track. Reduced funding would mean I would have to take on the role of carer and not be able to maintain full time work and that would be a financial burden that is not sustainable and I would need government assistance to survive. It is a much better investment in taxpayer money to fund the NDIS that provides jobs for many people in the community from Support workers to allied health professionals and gives meaningful independence to all disabled people.
I urge the Committee to listen to participants and their families before making changes that will directly shape our lives.
Sincerely,
(on behalf of )