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

Submission 1485

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong concerns about the proposed NDIS Amendment Bill.

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

Submission 1485

Funding Adjustments and Ministerial Control Over Categories:

I am concerned about proposals that would allow funding levels to be adjusted across entire categories of supports, rather than on an individual needs basis. This approach removes the person-centred foundation of the NDIS and risks cutting critical supports for many participants — including my children and me — without any consideration of our individual circumstances.

Definition of Permanent Disability and Functional Capacity:

The proposed changes to the definition of permanent disability ––including the expansion of what constitutes “appropriate treatment”— concern me. Under these changes, a person could be denied NDIS access if a treatment exists that reduces some impacts of their disability, even if that treatment is financially or geographically out of reach. As an autistic person with autistic children, I am concerned that we could be deemed ineligible for the scheme despite having lifelong, genuine support needs. Similarly, the introduction of a new formal definition of functional capacity may exclude many people who currently qualify and who desperately need funded support.

Family Support for Children: I have serious concerns about the proposed changes to what constitutes a parent’s responsibility for care. If the NDIA were to determine that supports such as behavioural therapy reduce the time it takes a parent to care for their child below an expected threshold, supports those could be denied. As a disabled parent myself, I already face significant challenges in supporting my children’s complex needs.Ihave substantially reducedmy working hours t managetheircare,and thisproposed changecould force metostopworking altogether.Forour familythat outcome wouldbefinanciallyand personally catastrophic. Increased Useof Automated Decision-Making: The proposalto increase reliance on automated administrative systemsinNDIS decision-makingconcernsmegreatly.Standardisedsystem-drivenprocessesare inherently less able torepondenthe individualcircumstancesparticipantsthisapproachrisks makingtheschemelesser equitableless humane,wouldrepresent yetanother barrierforpeoplewho arealreadystruggling tonavigateacomplex system.

Submission 1485