National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1451
Submission to the Australian Parliament – Concerns Regarding the NDIS Amendment Bill
and the Removal of Support Coordination
To: Members of the Australian Parliament Re: Proposed legislative changes affecting
support coordination within the NDIS I am writing to express significant concern regarding elements of the proposed NDIS amendment bill, particularly the intention to remove or substantially reduce support coordination from participant plans. as someone who works directly with ndis participants, families, and service providers,i see firsthandthe essential rolesupport coordination plays in ensuringthescheme functions as intended.
Support Coordination is not an optional extra — it is a core safeguard
SupportCoordinationisanoneofthefewmechanismswithinthendisthatactivelyprotectsparticipantsfromsystemcomplexity,servicegaps,andexploitation.removingorlimitingthissupporwilldisproportionatelyimpact:
- Participantswithcognitivedisability
- Participantswithpsychosocialdisability
- Familiesexperiencingcarerburnout
- Participantswithlimitedliteracyordigitalcapacity
- Peoplewithoutinformalsupports ThesegroupsrelyonSupporthCoordinationsotonavigatetheschemeunderstandtheirrightsandconnectwitsafearppropriateservices.withouittmanbeunabletoimplementtheirplanseffectivelyleadingtopooreroutcomesandincreasedlongtermcoststothesceme.
2. TheNDISisaalreadycomplex—removingsupportcoordinationincreasestrainrisk
The NDIS Review itself acknowledged that the system isto difficult to navigate.Participantsfrequentlystrugglewit: - Findingqualifiedproviders - Understandingbudgets andlineitems - Managingserviceagreements - Coordinatingmultipletherapiess - Respondingtocrises orchanges inneed - Ensuring compliance with ndis rules SupportCoordinatorsonoftentheonlyprofessionalthelpingparticipantsinterpret NDIA decisions, understand plan flexibility, anavoidmisuseoffunds.removalof this support will increaseadministrativeburden onfamiliesescalatecrisis situations,and ultimatelyshift cost backontohealthhousingandanjustice systems.
Removing Support Coordination Will Worsen Carer Burnout
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1451
Many families are already at breaking point. Carers are providing high levels of unpaid support because they cannot secure or coordinate the services their loved ones need. Without Support Coordination, carers will be forced to take on even more administrative, advocacy, and crisis-management responsibilities. This is not sustainable. Carer burnout leads to:
- Increased hospital admissions
- Family breakdown
- Loss of employment
- Higher long-term NDIS costs due to unmanaged needs Support Coordination is a preventative investment that reduces crisis expenditure and keeps families stable.
4. Support Coordination strengthens scheme integrity There is a misconception that Support Coordination contributes to overspending. In reality, Support Coordinators are often the only professionals ensuring:
- Correct use of funds * Prevention of overservicing * Identification of unethical provider behaviour* Accurate reporting of participant needs* Early intervention when risks emerge* Removing this layer of oversight will create more opportunities for fraud, not fewer.
Participants need independence, not abandonment The NDIS was founded on principles of choice and control, community inclusion,*and individualised support. Removing Support Coordination undermines these principles by placing unrealistic expectations on people whocannot safelyor effectively self-manage complex disability supports.*Independenceisnotachievedbywithdrawingassistance— it isto achievedbyprovidingtherightsupportatthetimetime.
Recommendations I respectfully urge Parliamentto:
1 Retain SupportCoordinationasafundedsupporthwithinNDISplans,particularlyfor participants with high orcomplexneeds. 2 Improvequalityandaudibility withintheSuppor tCo ordin ationsectorratherthan removingitorrestructuringitsolonlylargeorganisationscantenderfors thereroles.Large organisationsareoftenlessconnectedtot,and lessawareofindividu alcircumstances.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1451
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Ensure any new “navigator” model is adequately funded, skilled, and accessible, and does not replace individualised support with generic, under-resourced services with huge caseloads such as the NDIS partners ‘local area coordinators.’
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Consult directly with participants, carers, and frontline workers before implementing structural changes that will significantly impact daily life.
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Recognise Support Coordination as a critical safeguard, not an administrative luxury.