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

Submission 1464

Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

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

Submission type:

Personal submission by a 41-year-old, tertiary educated woman with level 2 Autism, raising Autistic and AuDHD daughters.

Position

I support the objective of protecting the NDIS for future generations. I also support stronger action on fraud, unsafe providers and poor use of public funding. However, do_not_support_the_Bill_proceeding_without_amendments_or_binding_implementation_safeguards. The cost_of_inadequate_disability_support_does_not_disappear.The_NDIS_should_be_assessed_not_only_by_its_direct_scheme_cost,_but_by_the_avoidable_costs_it_helps_prevent_across_government_and_families._The_NDIS_Review_frames_the_scheme_as_a_lifetime_investment_that_improves_outcomes_and_reduces avoidable costs across other systems including social security employment health housing justice That investment logic is central_to_this_Bill A narrow focus_on reducing scheme expenditure risks creating false savings if unmet need shifts into hospitals schools mental_health_services police courts housing income_support unpaid care_recommendations.I ask the_Committee to recommend that the_Bill proceed only_with the following safeguards:No_reduction_exit or_diversion_from_the_NDIS_until_alternative supports_exist No participant should lose NDIs access funded support until mainstream foundational supports are funded operational accessible disability-competent independently evaluated This_is_particularly important_for autistic children people with ADHD late-diagnosed_people communication_differences trauma_histories families already carrying high unpaid_care_loads Functional_capacity assessments must_reflect autism fluctuating capacity Assessment_processes_must_account for masking sensory overload executive dysfunction co occurring_AHDH trauma fluctuating capacity and difference between appearing capable in a short assessment functioning sustainably over time. Person may appear competent_short_interaction still be unable_sustain work parenting education relationships daily_living without support Group bulk_or_commissioned models not_replace individualised support where it_required

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

Submission 1464

Group supports may be appropriate for some people and some goals. They should not become a substitute for individualized support where the person’s functional needs require communication-specific, sensory-aware, trauma-informed or relationship-based support. For many autistic people, the relationship is part of the intervention. Effective support often depends on trust, continuity and a practitioner’s ability to understand how distress, communication and regulation change across settings.

Fraud controls and provider regulation must be proportionate

Fraud, unsafe practice and exploitation should be addressed directly. However, provider regulation should not create a market where only large providers can survive. Participants must retain access to trusted specialist providers, including smaller providers that meet quality and safety standards. Administrative burden should not become a proxy for safety.

Whole-of-government impact assessment needed according to Section X in the Bill

Any reforms that reduce, delay or standardize disability support should be assessed for impacts on health, mental health, education, justice, housing, income support, employment, unpaid care and women’s workforce participation. Where formal support is removed or diluted, the care task does not vanish; it transfers primarily among families—mainly mothers. Access planning & functional capacity: The Bill includes changes regarding access, planning, determination of support services, determination based upon real-world functioning rather than appointment presentation (especially important with regard to gender disparities). Permanence also requires proper understanding: autism being neurodevelopmental condition requiring ongoing supports such as therapy, medication etc., which do not make underlying disabilities temporary. Improvement through support cannot serve evidence that person no longer has permanent disability nor require further disability support. Provider models & individualized support concerns exist about potential movement toward bulk/group-based/panel/commissioned provider models specifically designed towards autistic people. Group support isn’t always inappropriate but group support shouldn’t replace necessary individualized support.

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

Submission 1464

Communication, regulation, sensory needs, behaviour support, family capacity building and trauma-informed support are not simple volume services. They often depend on fit, trust and continuity. A practitioner supporting an autistic person may need to understand:

• Communication under stress
• Sensory triggers and regulation needs
• Family and school or work context
• How to adapt support in real time. This cannot be reliably delivered through a generic model. Large-provider models may look efficient on paper. They may also reduce choice, continuity and access to specialist providers. For autistic people, poor provider fit can lead to disengagement, distress, regression or crisis. The Bill should include safeguards so future pricing, registration or commissioning arrangements do not make individualised specialist support harder to access. Whole-of-government cost and unpaid care The strongest case for NDIS sustainability is not only cost control. It is preventing avoidable harm and avoidable downstream expenditure.When disability support is inadequate, costs shift into:• Health and mental health services• Education systems• Child protection• Family violence response• Policing and justice• Housing and homelessness services• Income support• Unpaid family care• Lost workforce participation.For co-occurring ADHD diagnoses, early support with impulse control, executive functioning and emotional regulation can reduce later risk-taking, exclusion, family stress and justice-system contact. For autism, early and sustained support can improve communication, regulation, education employment independence and health.The Disability Royal Commission identified early disability assessment, early intervention, intensive family-centred support, mental health services, disability expertise and service coordination as protective factors for children with disability in child protection systems.These findings support a simple policy point reducing disability support can create costs elsewhereThe Bill should require a whole-of-government view of sustainabilitynotonlya scheme budgetviewWhen formal disability support is unavailable inadequately hardtoaccessfamilies absorb the workIn practice thatworkiscarriedmainlyby womenparticularly mothers.

Submission 1464

Parents become case managers, advocates, behaviour support workers, therapy coordinators, crisis responders and school negotiators. That labour is often unpaid and invisible.`

Workforce impact`The workforce impact is direct.Women reduce hours,

take lower-paid flexible roles,mis career progression, step out of the workforceand accumulate less superannuation This partofthe cost under-support.It should be measured before reforms are implemented.Personal experienceMy own life showsthecost late identification inadequate support.I was undiagnosed level autistic woman while pregnant during postnatal period.Because my autism relatedneeds were not recognised I didnot receive right support at time.The result significant lasting PTSD severe postnatal depression Theimpact didnot stop there It contributed longer-termhealth relationshipmental health consequences including obesity trauma years trying function in systems thatdid understand underlying cause Earlieridentification appropriate would likely have changedmy health parenting relationships participation also reduced reliance other system over time My concernreforms which narrow accessunderstate functional impact or push into unsuitable generic supports will reproduce this pattern scale recognising after opportunity early support passed ConclusionNDIS should protected future generations requires integrity value money action against fraud Also effective to remain available people need it Forautistic timeli individualised can improve communication regulation education employment health family stability independence Poorly designed reform delay dilute choice shift care back onto familiespush costsinto other sys Committee should recommend passage Bill without amendments binding implementation safeguards prevent shifting protect individualised preserve procedural fairness Key sources1. NDIS Review Working together deliver final report2 Department Health Disability and Ageing National Disab Scheme Amendment Securing the ND for Future Generations)Bill 206 materials3 Parliamentary Library Bills Digest:NationalDisabilityInsuranceSchemeAmendment (SecuringtheNDSforFutureGenerations)Bil4 Royal Australian New Zealand College Psychiatrists Autism Address mental needs of Autistic people

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

Submission 1464

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Autism in Australia
• Australian Bureau of Statistics: Autism in Australia -2022*
• Disability Royal Commission: *