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

Submission 1512

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 To whom it may concern,

I am an Occupational Therapist with over 34 years of experience working in the disability sector. My primary client base consists of people with disability receiving support through the NDIS. I specialise in complex home modifications, complex assistive technology assessments, and the preparation of clinical documentation required to ensure participants receive the supports they need to live with dignity, independence, and reduced reliance on exhausted informal supports.

I am making this submission because I am deeply concerned about how the proposed changes to the NDIS legislation are being implemented. While I understand the need for financial sustainability and accountability, I am alarmed that the current approach appears to target the very people the Scheme was designed to support, some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Having worked within government for more than 20 years, I have seen firsthand that inefficiencies, duplication, and poor communication contribute significantly to system costs. Repeated requests for “more evidence,” even when lifelong disability has already been established, create unnecessary administrative burden, distress, and demoralisation for participants. For example, asking a person with a lifelong mobility impairment to repeatedly justify the need for a specialised wheelchair to access their own property is not only wasteful, but also dehumanising.

People with disability have historically been marginalised, hidden, and treated as less deserving of dignity. Many of my clients are now reporting increased stigma, describing being labelled as “frauds” or “money wasters” in their communities following negative media narratives. This is retraumatising and undermines the social inclusion the NDIS was intended to promote.

The NDIS does not need harsher gatekeeping — it needs better systems. It needs:

• Strong, efficient processes to detect and prevent fraud
• Reduced duplication and over-handling of decisions to reduce costs
• A stable, supported workforce who are not burning out
• A human-centred approach that recognises disability as permanent, not hypothetical

People with disability do not need “insurance” in the traditional sense. Insurance is for events that might occur. For NDIS participants, the disability has already occurred - it is lifelong. They should not have to continually fight to prove their worthiness for basic supports that allow them to live safely and with dignity.

My key concern with the proposed changes is the removal of the participant’s ability to be genuinely seen and heard. Allied health professionals are trained in disability, functional assessment, and holistic practice. We understand that:

• Functional capacity cannot be separated from the environment
• Functional capacity cannot be separated from assistive technology
• People do not live in a vacuum — life is complex, and disability interacts with every aspect of it

A short telehealth interview conducted by someone without disability expertise cannot capture the complexity of a person’s lived experience. It risks oversimplifying, misrepresenting, or entirely missing the supports a person needs to participate in their community.

The NDIS must remain grounded in dignity, humanity, and evidence-based practice. I urge policymakers to ensure that reforms strengthen, rather than weaken the ability of people with disability to access the supports they need to live full, meaningful lives.

Thank you for your consideration

(OT)