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

Submission 156

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission in response to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 (referred in this submission as “The Bill”).

Aspect is one of Australia’s leading autism-specific service providers, with 60 years’ experience supporting Autistic individuals and their families across their lifespan. We deliver education, allied health, behaviour support, and community-based services, underpinned by research through the Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP).

Our submission focuses on the implications of the proposed amendments for Autistic people, their families, and the broader disability ecosystem.

Overview of key concerns

Aspect acknowledges the Government’s objective to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NDIS. Aspect also raises that several proposed measures risk unintended consequences specifically for Autistic participants that may reduce access to essential supports, increase inequity, and shift costs to families and other service systems which do not have the infrastructures or resources to provide best practice supports.

Key areas of concern include:

• Child safety, vulnerable person safeguarding and participation
• Functional capacity definition
• Access and permanence criteria
• Link between impairment and supports
• Value for money and evidence hierarchy
• Funding caps and reductions
• Plan reassessments, flexibility and automatic plan renewals
• Increased family responsibility and Administrative Burden
• Shift to “foundational supports”
• Workforce system and sustainability

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

Submission 156

Child safety, vulnerable person safeguarding and participation

Aspect emphasises that child safety and vulnerable person safeguarding must be explicitly embedded across reforms. A major protective factor in safeguarding is when children and vulnerable people are included within the community with appropriate supports. This ensures increased oversight and safeguarding, minimising isolation as a significant risk of abuse and neglect. Funding reductions for those with complex support needs places children and vulnerable people with disability at significant risk of harm. The Bill should consider community participation and engagement as an important safeguard against abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable people with disability, carefully balancing sustainability of the NDIS with the safety and wellbeing of the disability community.

Functional capacity definition

The Bill defines functional capacity as a person’s ability without assistance excluding environmental context.“This approach does not reflect the lived reality of Autistic people whose functioning includes:

• Highly context-dependent e.g., sensory environments routines)
• Often support dependent assistive technology scaffolding eSubject to fluctuation over time“ Functional capacity must be assessed in real-world contexts including supports and environment“Policy should also recognise dynamic situational capacity rather than static impairment.” Access criteria The Bill introduces requirement impairments considered permanent unless all “appropriate treatment” has been undertaken Autism should framed treatable lifelong it therapies interpreted curative Safeguards required prevent misuse clause Access therefore conditional exhausting aim cure fix disability Link between impairment Supports strengthen that supports arise directly from impairment autism often guided neurodiverse affirming early intervention therapeutic approaches Capacity-building Participation-oriented inclusive participant’s voice choice supports If narrowly interpreted there is potential they will approved supported under proposed bill.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Submission 156

Recommendations

Recognise that effective autism supports include early intervention and therapeutic supports that are strengths-based, capacity-building and result in social and participation outcomes, avoiding a purely deficit-based funding model.

Value for money and evidence hierarchy

The Bill prioritises peer-reviewed and generalisable research when determining effectiveness. This can lead to disadvantage personalized emerging supports which lack large-scale trials but demonstrate ethicalandeffective supports Autistic people.This also limits innovation individualised careapproaches canbe important particularlywhen supporting complexcare.

Recommendations

Adopt broader framework includes:

• Lived experience
• Individual outcome
• Practice based evidencenewdiversity affirming approaches.

Funding caps reductions

Bill enables Minister reduce across groups of supports set maximum levelsThis could mean reduced therapy behaviour support core hours will further increased unmetneedsacross disability community disproportionately impactpeople withcomplex needssupports overtime increase pressure on other government agencies such as healtheducation. ####### Recommendations Introduce transparency decision safeguards protect highsupport participants significantly impacted by fundingrestrictions.Bill should strengthen review appeal mechanisms ensuring mostvulnerable complexes able voice views access appeals fairly. ######## Plan reassessments flexibility automatic plan renewals Reassessments restricted significant ongoing changes fail reflect episodicchanges suchas:transitions school adulthood moving out homeburnout regression decline due mental physicalhealth conditions delay necessary adjustments may more intensivesupports required in addition plans automatically renewed without fullreassessment risk participantvoice co design outdated continuing missed opportunities adjust changing needs. ############### Recommendations Enable for life transitions environmentalphysical andmental health changefluctuating guarantees involvement renewal.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2026

Submission 156

• Establishing clear review trigger points.

Increased family responsibility and administrative burden

• The Bill reinforces expectations that families provide substantial care and support which results in increased caregiver burden, risks burnout among participants with executive functioning challenges from informal advocacy leading towards greater reliance on informal advocacy creating an environment where caregivers face higher levels of stress resulting into potential exhaustion or even death due to lack thereof adequate resources available within their reach.

Recommendations:

- Clearly distinguish disability-related supports from parental responsibilities;	 - Recognize & Support Care Sustainability Wellbeing; 	   Simplify Processes Provide Accessible Communication Adjustments;	 Fund Navigation Advocacy Support .

Shift To “Foundational Supports”

Supports may be excluded if deemed more appropriate other systems such as foundational ones thereby increasing risk service gaps cost shifting underfunded system (e.g., health education).

Recommendations:

 Ensure Foundational Systems Fully Fulfilled Operational First Introducing Accountability Mechanisms Across System Guarantee No Participant Left Without Support Providing Planning Support Those Who May Exit Scheme Ensuring They Understand And Are Able Access Alternative Support.

Workforce And System Sustainability

The reforms occur context workforce instability Service Demand Pressures. ####### Recommendations: Develop National NDIS Workforce Strategy Recognise Funding High Responsibility Training Costs Incurred Large NGOs Build Sustain Workforce Particularly Organisations That Support Complexity.