Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill

My connection to this issue

I am the parent and primary carer of two children who both rely on NDIS supports in different ways. My younger child is currently on the early intervention pathway and has joint hypermobility syndrome, along with developmental challenges that affect his emotional regulation, behaviour, eating and speech. These all impact his day-to-day functioning. He struggles\nwit… to keep up physically with other children. He relies on ongoing therapy supports and
specialised orthotics to help him participate safely and comfortably in everyday activities. My older child is autistic and also has ADHD. He has limited verbal communication and requires significant supports around communication, social interaction, daily living skills,…

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1534

affect my ability to consider returning to work in the future, as consistent supports are what make it possible to manage their day-to-day care and therapy needs.

I do understand the need for a sustainable NDIS but early intervention and ongoing supports are critical They help prevent bigger issues later give children best chance participate fully everyday life.

Overall view this bill overall I serious concern impact could people disability rely on NDIS function participation every day while understanding intention improve consistency sustainability worry some may reduce access essential if assessments eligibility processes become more standardised less responsive individuals complexity varies significantly between individuals environments even day shift toward community-based including initiatives like Thriving Kids especially where expected replace specialist therapies reality schools services already under pressure often not have resources capacity meet complex individualized needs .

My main concerns:

• Administrative burden
• Loss or reduction of supports* Children/families/early intervention* Eligibility or assessment changes

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

Submission 1534

Administrative Burden

Families already spend huge amounts of time managing appointments, therapies, reports, school communication and NDIS paperwork. More reassessments and evidence demands requirements would add stress and take time, money and energy away from supporting their children.

I also worry about producing evidence taking longer than actual therapy sessions do because:

• Assessments often require multiple visits;
• Reports need additional work alongside therapists’ clinical duties; when seen weekly it can stretch over weeks or months without disrupting therapy.

Loss or Reduction of Supports

The proposed changes could lead families like mine losing essential services due to more structured assessments which might not consider how kids functionally engage with everyday life as they grow up.

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

Submission 1534

Children, Families and Early Intervention

I also have concerns about Thriving Kids and a broader shift toward community-based supports, including schools, being expected to meet needs currently supported through the NDIS.

While I understand the intention is inclusion and participation, schools and community services are already stretched and often do not have the specialist resources or staffing needed to support complex disability needs.

Teachers and schools do their best, but they are educators, not specialist clinicians. As a result, children like mine rely heavily on external supports such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy to participate meaningfully at school and in daily life.

I am concerned that relying more on already stretched community systems could mean children with additional needs do not receive the level of support they need to participate\and progress.`

Eligibility or Assessment Changes`

With more structured assessments and reassessments being used to determine eligibility, I am concerned there will be less focus on how children actually function day to day. My children have different and complex needs and these are not always captured well in standard assessmentor \a single point in time. Peoplewithdisabilitydo not fit neatly into one “box” antheir supportneeds can changedependingonthe environmentandcircumstances.Becauseofthis,Ibelieveassessmentsneedto remain individualised based real-world functioning lived experience,not overlystandardisapproaches.Whileunderstandfunctionalcapacityassessmentstointended reflectrealneedy worrythatpractice mayrelyheavily reportsstructured tools does fully capturehow childrfunction across differentsettingsovertime.Thiscouldleadtosupportsbeing reducedremovedbased incompletetoversimplifiedinformation.

My position on this Bill

I support a sustainable and well-managed NDIS but have serious concerns about proposed changes which could reduce access to timely appropriate supports.

The NDIS provides essential services like speech/occupational physiotherapy and orthotics needed in everyday life management communication regulation mobility & participation daily living activities.

If assessments become more rigid these supports may be delayed reduced reflecting real world need disability is unique one size fits all decisions based limited snapshots miss reality day-to-day functionings continuity critical even small disruptions affect progress development participations also believe efforts improve system integrity should focus genuine fraud misuse additional burden families accessing supports.

Closing

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission and for considering the lived experience of families affected by these changes.