National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1542
Dear Parliament,
Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill
I am an Paediatric occupational therapist working with children and families, supporting participants with developmental delay, autism, psychosocial disability, and complex or fluctuating support needs. My practice focuses on early intervention, capacity building, and participation-based supports for children and their families.
My concern relates to parts of the Bill that would reduce capacity building supports, reduce social and community participation supports, change eligibility processes in practice, and introduce a separation between the NDIS and future foundational supports.
While the Bill proposes a move away from diagnosis-based access, there is a real risk that this will result in higher practical eligibility thresholds. This is particularly concerning for children aged 0–8, people with psychosocial disability, and people with fluctuating, episodic, or degenerative conditions whose needs are not always captured accurately through standardised assessments or single-point functional testing.
My concern also relates to the proposed reduction in capacity building and participation supports. These supports are central to occupational therapy practice and are fundamental to developing independence, daily living skills, emotional regulation, social participation, and engagement in education and community life.
There is also concern about the transition to foundational supports such as Thriving Kids. If NDIS supports are reduced before these systems are fully established and accessible, there is a real risk of service gaps. This could result in children missing critical early intervention windows, families losing supports without alternatives in place, and increased pressure on carers and mainstream services.
In my clinical experience, occupational therapy and capacity building supports often make a significant difference to a child’s ability to participate in daily routines, manage sensory and emotional regulation, and engage in early learning environments.
For example, children who receive consistent capacity building supports are more likely to develop skills in communication, self-regulation, and independence in self-care tasks. These supports also enable families to implement strategies consistently at home and in community settings.
If access to these supports is reduced, children may experience delays in development, reduced participation in early childhood education, and increased behavioural distress. Families may also experience increased stress, reduced capacity to maintain employment, and greater reliance on crisis supports rather than early intervention.
What I want Parliament to do
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1542