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

Submission 1493

Submission to the Inquiry into the Administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

I am writing as the parent of a six-year-old daughter with Down syndrome to provide feedback regarding the administration of the NDIS and concerns regarding proposed legislative changes.

Our Experience of the NDIS

The NDIS has been an incredibly valuable and positive support for our daughter and our family. Through the scheme, she has been able to access physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy from an early age. These supports have enabled her to make significant developmental progress across communication, physical development, independence, and participation in everyday life. Importantly, these supports have helped make it possible for our daughter to attend a mainstream school and participate meaningfully alongside her peers. The therapies funded through the NDIS are not “extras” — they are essential supports that allow her to learn, communicate, build relationships, and engage in the community. The NDIS has not only benefited our daughter directly but has also strengthened our family’s capacity to support her and maintain our wellbeing. The scheme has demonstrated how early intervention and appropriate disability supports can create long-term positive outcomes for children with disabilities and reduce future demand on more intensive services.

Concerns Regarding the Bill

I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the NDIS legislation. Firstly, the bill appears to have been developed without adequate consultation with people with disabilities, families, carers, and the broader disability community. Decisions that will have such profound impacts on disabled Australians should not occur without meaningful engagement with those directly affected. Secondly, I am concerned that the bill provides government with excessive power and discretion to arbitrarily reduce or remove supports from participant plans. The proposed framework appears to lack sufficient safeguards, transparency, and accountability. This creates significant uncertainty and fear for families who rely on the NDIS to support basic functioning, participation, and quality of life. The legislation also appears to leave the door open for future governments to further reduce supports and shift increasing financial burden onto families. Families caring for people with disabilities already face substantial emotional, physical, and financial pressures. Weakening protections within the legislation risks undermining the long-term stability and integrity of the\nscheme.

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

Submission 1493

I am also concerned that the bill fails to adequately protect the rights, dignity, and autonomy of persons with disabilities. The NDIS was founded on principles of inclusion, choice, control, and human rights. Any reforms must strengthen — not weaken – those principles. Additionally, the focus of reforms appears misplaced. Rather than targeting organisations distributing or “skimming” money from this scheme there’s a risk genuine participants will bear funding cuts through reduced support. I particularly concern potential reductions in social community participation funds these vital enabling work,socialise,build independence,and participate life.Reducing these risks increasing isolation,worsening mental well-being creating demand acute healthmental health,crisis services future.

What should change?

The government must undertake consultation disability before implementing significant reformstotheNDIS Peoplewithdisabilities,families carers therapists advocates service providers all possess critical lived experience insight into how changes affect daily long-term outcomes.The legislation should include stronger protections safeguards ensure governments cannot further dismantle erode participant supports without oversight accountability.Any process prioritises:

• protecting people’s right,dignity;
• ensuring transparency fairness decision-making;targeting fraud unethical provider practices rather reducing participant supports recognising value early intervention community participationsupports.

Impact our family

Any reduction would have consequences for our families Without adequate we face increased risk burnout financial strain stress poor mental health.Families can’t absorb loss essential disability supports serious impacts on functioning wellbeing The reality when unsupported both suffer ultimately places greater pressure systems education crisis services. What Committee Should Know

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

Submission 1493

The NDIS has been an amazing support for our daughter and our family. It has helped our child thrive, participate in mainstream education, and develop skills that will support her throughout life.

The scheme is worth protecting.

Most importantly, people with disabilities must be protected. Reforms to the NDIS should strengthen inclusion, dignity, participation, and support ––not create fear, uncertainty, and\nanadditional hardship for vulnerable Australians. Thank you for considering this submission.redacted yours sincerely,