National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1442

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Proposed Changes to the NDIS Act

My name is redactedandI work withinthe disablesector asa Support Coordinator,supportingparticipantsfamiliesnavigatingthen DISsystemacrossarangeofcomplexneeds.

lamwritingthissubmissionnotonlyfromaprofessionalperspectivebutalso fromtheperspectiv eofsomeone who sees thee motional practical financial impact these systems have on real people every single day .

lhave workedwithinthedisablesectorsince2011throughout this time l havesupportedparticipan ts car ers fam ilies allied health professionals schools hospitals providers, an d community ser vices acrossawide range ofcircumstancesandlevels complexity.

myperspectiveis also informedby lived experience.In additionto workingwithinthedisability sectorasaSupportCoordinator,l amalsoa plannominee anda family memberswhoaccess then D IS.

This means I haves experiencedthesystem not onlyprofessionally but personally.I understand firsthand them o nialpressureadministrativeburdenadvocacyrequirements uncertainty andongoingresponsibility that many familiesannomineescarrywhile attempting tonavigate supports funding service access , a nd longtermplanning. Holding both professional personal insight has reinforced for me how critical it isthat the NDISremains focusedonpractical accessible genuinely personcentred supportthat improvesqualityo life reduceslongtermcris isandsupportsbothparticipantsa ndthe peop lewhoca reforthem The famil iesI workalongsideareoftenalreadyexhaustedbeforetheyevenreachthepointof askingf orhelp.M any arebalancingdisabilitymentalhealthchallengesbehavioural concerns trauma financial pressure caring responsibilities social isolation housing stress,and burnoutsimultaneously One my greatestconcerns regarding th e proposed changesistheapparentshifttoward requiring people to exhaust allavailable treatment options before disabilityisc onsiderd “permanent”enough fors upport In reality man y ofther treamentsconsidered“ available ”ar enotrealisticallyaccessible .

lregularlysee participantsan dfamilies facing:

• years-longwaitlists forspecialists an d allied healthsupp ort s
• unaffordabletherapycosts

limitedornon-existentruralandr egional services

t rans portbarriers

c lini cianshortages

r epeatedassessments thatretraumatiseparticip ants and families

o verwhelmingadministrativeburden simplytomaintainexisting supports Thereis a significantdifference betweentreatment existing in theorybeing genuinely accessiblein practice.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1442

I am concerned these changes risk placing vulnerable people into cycles of repeatedly having to prove the severity and permanence of their disability while their wellbeing deteriorates in the process.

I am also deeply concerned about the potential reduction or restriction of capacity-building and community participation supports.

From what I witness in frontline work, these supports are not “extras.” They are often the exact supports that prevent crisis.

When participants have access to appropriate therapy, behavioural support, psychosocial supports, support coordination, mentoring, social connection, and skill-building opportunities, we often see:

• improved emotional regulation • increased independence • reduced social isolation • reduced risk of hospitalisation • improved family stability • reduced behavioural escalation • increased community participation • reduced pressure on carers

When these supports are reduced or delayed, the consequences can be significant and long lasting.

I have seen families reach complete burnout after years of trying to hold systems together without adequate support. I have seen carers forced to reduce work or leave employment entirely due to caring demands. I have seen participants deteriorate while waiting for approvals, assessments, reviews, or access to essential services.

In many cases, early and preventative support is significantly less costly than responding once a person or family has reached crisis point.

Another significant concern is the increasing disconnect between therapeutic recommendations and the practical supports required to successfully implement them in daily life.

The NDIS places strong emphasis on capacity-building supports and regularly funds assessments, therapy, behavioural strategies, and allied health intervention. However, in practice, there is often insufficient recognition that many participants require ongoing direct support to consistently implement these recommendations within their everyday environments.

For many people living with disability, particularly those with intellectual disability, autism, psychosocial disability, acquired brain injury, or cognitive impairment, living learning maintaining new skills requires repetition consistency co-regulation modelling and long-term reinforcement. Attending therapy alone does not automatically translate into functional skill development independence.

In many cases, support workerscarersand day-to-day support networks arethe people who help participants repeatedly practiseimplementingtherapeuticstrategies over extended periods time Without thisongoing implementationsupportthefeffectiveness of funded therapeuticintervention can be signifcantly reduced.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1442

Another critical issue is the increasing reliance placed on informal supports to carry out ongoing implementation of therapeutic strategies and daily capacity-building supports without adequate recognition of its impact.

Importantly many informal supports already experience significant burden emotional exhaustion financial pressures burnout Families often attempt manage complex behavioural emotional medical living support simultaneously frequently limited respite or themselves Expecting informal supports consistently implement therapeutic recommendations indefinitely always realistic sustainable It important recognize participant respond differently formal than family members carer In practice many more receptive learning new skills from support worker professional they developed trusted relationships outside dynamics This relational separation can reduce resistance preserve relationship create effective opportunity learn regulation independence skill development From a perspective appears disconnect between funding therapeutic recommendation practical ongoing implementation those succeed real-world settings Concern growing impact reforms system uncertainty having disability workforce itself Many across sector continue provide significant unpaid support due service gaps funding exhaust delays lack navigation support this comes expense wellbeing time emotion long-term sustainability within Despite continues play role preventing crisis connecting participants with appropriate mainstream community reducing fragmentation supporting engage safely meaningfully their communities Long term value these extends far beyond individual When people appropriately supported see increased opportunities employment education social participation independent connection improved quality life also reduced pressure hospitals mental health emergency services housing systems informal carers Reducing may short-term savings paper risks significantly greater costs multiple systems Believe needs be greater that not only maintaining safety but creating meaningful participate in communities live dignity stability connect autonomy Also believe need consultation directly impacted by including participants carers allied professionals frontline workers

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 1442

Recommendations:

• Maintain access to capacity-building and community participation supports.
• Ensure definitions relating to “permanence” consider affordability, location, trauma, and realistic accessibility of treatment options.
• Better recognise the relationship between therapeutic intervention and the ongoing support required to successfully implement strategies in real-world settings.
• Reduce unnecessary administrative burden and duplication placed on participants and families.
• Recognise preventative supports as essential long-term investments rather than discretionary spending.
• Increase consultation with lived experience participants, carers, allied health professionals, carers and frontline workers before implementing major legislative changes.
• Improve recognition and sustainability of the frontline disability workforce and the critical role it plays in preventing participant and family crisis.

The NDIS has changed the lives of many Australians for the better. While I understand the importance of sustainability and accountability within the scheme, I believe reforms must be approached carefully to avoid creating additional barriers for the very people the system was designed to support. At its core, the NDIS should continue striving toward a society where people with disability are supported to participate meaningfully, safely, and with dignity within their communities, rather than becoming increasingly isolated due to lack of appropriate support. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission.