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

Submission 1501

To Whom It May Concern, RE: Concerns Regarding Proposed NDIS Reforms and “Securing the NDIS for Future Generations” Bill I am writing as a Disability Support Worker to express serious concern regarding the proposed reforms and funding changes currently being considered for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While I understand the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS, I believe many of the proposed changes will have a significant and harmful impact on participants, particularly those with complex needs, psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries, degenerative conditions, and participants who rely heavily on daily support to maintain independence, safety, dignity, and community participation.

Participant Needs and Individualised Supports

Through my direct experience supporting participants in day-to-day settings, I have observed that support needs cannot always be measured strictly by fixed budgets, broad diagnosis categories, or standardized assessments. Participant needs fluctuate regularly depending on mental health, physical health, behavioural challenges, trauma history, environmental stressors, sensory overwhelm, medical changes, communication abilities, cognitive functioning, and social circumstances. One of the major concerns surrounding the proposed reforms is the increasing move toward categorizing participants into broad disability groups and applying standardized funding expectations based primarily on diagnostic categories or general functional assessments. In practice, no two participants are the same even when they share similar diagnoses. Disabilities exist along a spectrum, so individual levels of required assistance can vary dramatically from person to person due to co-occurring conditions, traumatic histories, behavioral supports needed for each participant’s unique situation including their level of mental well-being (including any diagnosed condition), ability to communicate effectively within different environments, overall physical fitness status as it relates specifically towards this particular individual’s specific requirements regarding mobility and other aspects related directly with respect thereto; such factors being considered alongside current living arrangements which may include family members residing at home who provide additional care services beyond those provided through NDIS programs themselves; such considerations must also take account not only what has been previously discussed but should further consider how best these various elements interact together in order that an appropriate plan be developed tailored uniquely according This approach could result in:

• Participants receiving inadequate funding because they do not fit“the standard modelfortheir diagnosis

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

Submission 1501

• Increased behavioral incidents due to unmet support needs;
• Higher risks to participant safety and wellbeing;
• Increased carer burnout and family stress;
• Participants losing independence due to insufficient supports;
• Frontline workers being unable to safely or effectively provide care within reduced budgets;
• Participants being forced into crisis before additional supports are considered;
• Reduced recognition of invisible disabilities and fluctuating conditions. Disability support cannot operate under a “one size fits all” model without flexibility because individualized funding is necessary as each person’s need changes over time significantly.

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

Submission 1501

• deterioration in mental health;
• increased depression and anxiety;
• loss of independence and confidence;
• increased behavioural incidents;
• higher rates of hospital admissions;
• reduced ability to maintain employment, education, or volunteering;
• greater risk of self-harm, crisis presentations, and homelessness.

28-Day Communication Rules and Administrative Burden

Additionally, the proposed 28-day communication and response expectations surrounding plan reviews, reassessments, evidence requests, and NDIA correspondence may create substantial risk for vulnerable participants. Many participants experience barriers relating to literacy, cognition, executive functioning, trauma, mental health, intellectual disability, unstable housing, hospitalisation, communication difficulties, or limited informal supports. If participants fail to respond within strict timeframes, they may face automatic reductions,suspensions, reassessments, or cuts to their plans despite their genuine support needsremaining unchanged. This creates a serious risk that vulnerable individuals may lose access to critical supportssimply due to communication difficulties rather than actual reductions in disability-relatedneeds.

Standardised Assessments and Eligibility Concerns

There are also significant concerns regarding the proposal to increase reliance onstandardised assessments and functional capacity tools rather than long-term therapeuticrelationships and evidence from treating professionals. Many disabilities present differently day-to-day and cannot always be accurately measuredthrough short assessments or “one-size-fits-all” criteria. If passed, these reforms may also:

• make it significantly harder for people to access the NDIS in the first place;
• force participants to repeatedly “prove” their disability despite permanent diagnoses;
• create delays in accessing essential supports and therapies;
• reduce funding for therapies and early intervention supports;
• negatively impact children who rely on early intervention services;
• create increased stress and burnout for carers and families;
• increase pressure on ageing parents and informal support networks;

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

Submission 1501

• leave participants vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation if supports are reduced;
• increase the likelihood of participants entering hospital, mental health units, homlessness services, or the justice system due to lack of supports;
• disproportionately affect participants living in regional and rural areas where supports are already limited;
• reduce participant choice and control, which was one of the founding principles of the NDIsD;* create fear and uncertainty amongst participants who already experience significant stress navigating the system; force participants to prioritise “basic survival” supports over quality of life and independence goals; reduce access to support coordination, making the system even harder to navigate for vulnerable participants; increase out-of-pocket expenses for families who may be forced to privately fund Supports that are no longer covered; cause participants to disengage from the NDIS entirely due to stress complexity ,and repeated reassessments. Foundational Supports and Service Gaps There is also major concern regarding The Government’s proposal To shift many supports into“foundational supports outside Of the NDIS. At present Many these systems not fully developed funded Or accessible This creates a genuine risk That participants will lose supports before replacement Services Are properly available leaving Vulnerable people without assistance entire Without appropriate transition Systems Already In place many Participants May Experience service gaps deterioration wellbeing Or complete loss Access to supports they currently rely upon daily Positive Reform Areas While there concerns Regarding proposed reforms it important acknowledge stronger oversight surrounding fraud prevention provider accountability And misuse funding Is positive step For scheme overall Improving safeguards against exploitation fraudulent claiming unsafe Provider practices Important ensure NDIS Funding used appropriately reaches participants genuinely require Support.

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

Submission 1501

However, it is critical that fraud prevention measures do not unintentionally create additional cantriers, excessive administrative burden, or reduced flexibility for genuine participants who rely on timely responsive supports.

Conclusion

As support workers we regularly witnessthe positive outcomestheNDIScan provide whentheparticipants receive appropriate flexibleand person-centredsupports We also witness how quickly participants can decline when supports arereduceddelayedrestrictedor made inaccessible The NDLS was originally createdto empower Australiasthedisabilitytowith dignity independence safety inclusionequalopportunityAny reformsin introduced should continuetoprivatiseparticipantwellbeingagenuineindividualneedabove cost reduction targets I strongly encouragethegovernment decision-makers to undertake further consultation with participantsfamiliesfrontline supporworkersallied health professionals anddisability advocacy organisations before implementing reformsthat may have life-alteringconsequences for vulnerable AustraliansSincerely AVerypassionateDisabilitySupportWorker