National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1490
Dear Committee,
I am writing this letter as a family member of support workers, the grandchild of people who will need support workers, and a community member with deep care for members of my community with disabilities. The proposed changes to the NDIS represent some of the most significant reforms to the scheme since its introduction. While I understand and support the importance of strengthening safeguards, improving accountability and addressing fraud within the system, I am concerned about the potential impacts these changes may unintentionally have on participants and their access to supports.
I have heard the difference the NDIS can make in helping people access opportunities develop independence engage with their communities live meaningful lives. I also learnt from inadequate support having impact not just participant themselves but families carers around them Functional capacity assessments • Concerns reliance functional assessment if considered alongside information participation carer families involved day-to-day life People disability physical cognitive psychosocial often experience fluctuations presentation Individuals good bad days changing significantly depending symptoms emotional wellbeing behavioural environmental factors On one person calm independent highly engaged another require prompting assistance daily tasks implementation behaviour strategies My concern is that without broader context assessments fully capture realities individual’s day-life Recommendation: • Ensure functional remain component decision-making rather than sole determining factor Continue incorporating information participants carers support workers families treating professionals create more complete picture needs Framework planning process Understand goal increasing consistency funding decisions However increased standardisation could reduce flexibility individuation
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1490
I am aware that individuals, either with the same or different diagnoses, will never have exactly the same needs, goals, behaviours, strengths or support requirements, as diagnosis alone does not define a person’s experience or support needs. For individuals with higher support requirements, behavioural presentations or complex needs, individualised supports are often essential to maintaining safety, wellbeing and quality of life. Recommendation:
- Maintain flexibility within planning processes and ensure individual circumstances continue to remain central to decision-making.
Eligibility/ Permanent disability
I am concerned about how treatment and permanency considerations may be interpreted when determining eligibility for supports. I understand the intention of ensuring supports are provided appropriately; however, I have concerns about how these requirements might affect people living with disabilities who rely on the NDIS.I am also worried because eligibility criteria related to treatments could unintentionally create pressure leading some participants into pursuing interventions they do not want before being able access necessary supports.People should retain autonomy over decisions regarding their own healthcare options without feeling pressured to make choices based solely upon whether those actions align directly with accessing needed services.We all deserve this right.Not every intervention is simple - some can involve physical demands emotionally difficult financially costly uncomfortable carry risks simply don’t match an individual’s preferences beliefs goal expectations concern exists around these pressures affecting participants choosing against certain therapies experienced significant challenges through previous interventional experiences.Worries extend beyond just participants themselves families too Pressures surrounding treatment decisions may cause additional strain including emotional psychological financial stress in addition existing difficulties many already face.Such measures exist improve lives promote independence individuals shouldn’t feel forced undergo unwanted procedures merely gain required assistance.Recommendations: Ensure that eligibility processes preserve participant choice control relating health care decisions.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1490
- Ensure access to supports is not perceived as being dependent upon pursuing unwanted treatments or interventions.
Community and Social Supports
I encourage whoever is reading this letter to consider what life would look like if you were unable to leave your home, engage with your community, speak with friends, participate in activities you enjoy, or even complete simple daily activities such as grocery shopping or going for a walk. Would you feel isolated? Lonely? Confined? Disconnected from the world around you? For many people with disabilities, community participation supports are not simply social outings or optional activities; they often play an essential role in maintaining independence, well-being, social connection, emotional health, confidence, and meaningful engagement in their lives. Participants can develop friendships, improve communication skills, increase confidence, and build independence through community participation and social supports. It’s clear that isolation has significant impacts on individuals’ mental wellness—something I’ve observed firsthand among elderly folks who have limited opportunities for involvement due to reduced support services availability.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1490
- Funding decisions should remain responsive to individual support requirements rather than broad assumptions regarding support categories.
Changes to reasonable and necessary
I am concerned about how changes to the interpretation of what is considered “reasonable and necessary” may impact participants and families. The following text has been extracted from an official document: Families, young children, teenagers and adults have all benefited significantly from the supports provided through the NDIS. These supports have not only benefitted individual participants but also had meaningful impacts on family wellbeing relationships independence overall quality life Every persons circumstances different People have different needs goals presentations family structures living situations levels informal support available them Families care already provide substantial emotional physical practical support every day often well beyond people see outside I concern that increased expectations surrounding informal or family supports unintentionally place additional pressure families who managing significant responsibilities I seen appropriate supports reduce stress within households strengthen relationship allow individuals develop independent choice lives Also situation where become physically emotionally exhausted when support exceeds realistically able they are No one feel burden because require support with disabilities continue access promotes independence choice control over their own lives Everyone inherent value Recommendation: Ensure changes “reasonable necessity” recognise individual family circumstance differing capacities informals Supports ensure families carers substitute essential supports ## Suspending participant plans Concerned suspensions affect individuals experience barriers communication mobility comprehension engagement administrative processes My cousins rely heavily assistance appointments communicate paperwork responding important correspondence Missing communication failing respond required timeframe does necessarily mean person choosing engage Many reasons occur difficulties understanding information delays receiving
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1490 correspondence, communication barriers, mobility limitations, cognitive disabilities or reliance on others for support with daily tasks. I am concerned that if plans are suspended too quickly, some individuals may lose access to essential supports because of barriers outside of their control. For some participants, iterruptions to support may have significant impacts on wellbeing, daily routines, emotion regulation community participationand overall safetys.I thinkadditional effortsshould bemade contact engageparticipants before suspensionofsupports is considered. Recommendation:
- Implement multiple methods of contactbefore suspendingplans including phonecontact email engagementwith nominatedsupportswere appropriate.- Ensure reasonable flexibility existsfor participanwho experiencebarriers in respondingto correspondence.
Provider Accountability
Isupport stronger provider accountability measures particularly whereindividualsmay be at increased risk abuseexploitation. I strongly believethataccountability requirements should sit providers systems rather than creating additional burdens people livingdisabilities Registration oversight andstronger safeguards potential improve participant safety quality care service standards.Thank you considering my feedback concerns.respectfully ask experiencesparticipant families carers continue central decisions surrounding futureNDIS.Kind regards,**