Submission to the NDIS Inquiry

To the Members of the Inquiry, I am writing as someone with both professional and personal experience in the disability sector. I currently work with people with disability and their families, and I also have lived experience supporting a family member through the NDIS. While I understand the need to protect the long-term sustainability of the Scheme, I am deeply concerned that many of the current reform discussions risk targeting the wrong people and causing significant harm to participants, carers, families and smaller providers. The NDIS has grown from approximately 610,500 participants in June 2023 to more than 750,000 participants by late 2025. At the same time, Australia’s population has also grown rapidly; awareness and diagnosis of disability have improved, and more families are now seeking support that previously did not exist or was inaccessible. Government projections themselves forecast participant growth to approximately 754,000 participants by 2025–26 years ago. Because of this, I question how realistic or fair it is to attempt to scale participation levels backwards toward 2023 figures while the population continues to grow and demand for disability services continues to increase. Disability does not disappear because budgets tighten. The need still exists.

I also believe the public discussion surrounding “cost blowouts” has unfairly shifted focus towards participants, families and smaller providers rather than properly addressing fraud exploitation waste where it commonly occurs, in my experiencemany sole tradersand smallsupport providerssimply trying make honest livingwhile providing genuine carecommunity accessfor vulnerablepeopleThesesmallprovidersoften build trusted relationships withfamiliesdeliver highlypersonalised supportslarger organisations cannotThe government should place a far stronger focus on investigating large-scale fraud overchargingprovider misuse corporateexploitation within systemrather creating fear amongstvulnerableparticipantsfamilysthey may lose essentialsupportsStrongerauditingtargetedinvestigationsincreasedaccountabilitylarge would achieve blanket cuts affecting everyday participants carersAt same timebelievegovernment consider bringing all underaproperly structured tiered compliance registrationsystemwithin NDISA tier model allow higher risk larger handling significant funding complexservices face strong oversight auditingcompliance requirements whereaslower-risk providerssoletraders could operate simpler practicalrequirements.

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

Submission 1470

Currently, many sole traders and small operators face excessive red tape, administrative burden and compliance costs that can be overwhelming for small businesses attempting to deliver frontline supports. These providers are often the very people delivering flexible community-based support that participants and families value most.

Reducing unnecessary bureaucracy for smaller operators would allow them to spend more time supporting participants rather than completing paperwork and navigating complex systems.

A fair tiered system could improve accountability where it is genuinely needed while still supporting honest small providers delivering quality care. This approach would strengthen safeguards without driving smaller providers out of the sector or reducing participant choice.

One of my greatest concerns is the proposed reduction in funding relating to community participation respite-style supports and family assistance.

Community participation is not a luxury It is often the difference between isolation inclusion these supports provide social connection independence routine confidence mental wellbeing for participants Equally important they provide exhausted parents carers with desperately break The families I work with under enormous pressure Many parents care children adults high needs hours day seven weeks When supported access communities mothers primary use simply sleep recover attend appointments other members Without these pressures on becomes unsustainable Reducing may save money short term but risks increasing burnout breakdown health issues hospital admissions crisis situations long term Also concerned about proposals Commissioner government restrict reduce disability groups considered “high cost” rapidly growing creates significant fear uncertainty living permanent lifelong disabilities such as Down syndrome Autism Spectrum Disorder Cerebral Palsy Intellectual Disability Multiple Sclerosis Acquired Brain Injury Families should repeatedly prove conditions will never improved many assessments specialist reports evidence gathering Requiring continual reassessment

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

Submission 1470

creates stress, delays and unnecessary administrative burden for families already under pressure. I do understand there are cases where reassessment is appropriate, particularly where diagnoses are less clear-cut or where significant functional improvement may occur over time. However, this should not become a blanket approach for participants with permanent and well-established disabilities. Another major concern is the proposed reassessment and review process. extending review timeframes from 21 days to 90 days while also limiting appeal pathways creates enormous uncertainty and distress for participants and families.Leaving people waiting for up to three months — potentially without communication or certainty—is simply unacceptable when supports directly affect daily care, therapy, transport, safety and community access.Families cannot put their lives on hold indefinitelywhile waiting for decisions that affect basic functioning and support.Natural justice and procedural fairness must remain central to the Scheme.Participants deserve:● timely reassessments● clear communication● transparent decision-making,and● meaningful appeal rights.No participant or family should be left “hanging in the wind”without answersor support.The NDIS was created to support Australians livingwithsignificant disabilityto live dignified,safeandmeaningfullives.Sustainability matters,but sustainabilitycannot come atthe expense offairness,compassionandsensesc.I urge the Inquiry to:focus fraud investigationson large-scale misuse andrexploitationimplementa fair tiered provider compliance systemreduce unnecessary red tapefor sole traders small providersprotectcommunity participationandrepite supporstransparentdecisionmakingreducesupports Thepeoplemost affected by these decisions are not statisticsonaspreadsheet.TheyareAustralians tryingtolive with dignitywhilfamilies dotheir absolute besttocare forthem every single day. Thank you foreach considering this submission.

Submission 1470