Submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Attention: Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Submitted by email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au date: June 1st , 2026 To The Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I \am writing today not because i\have t he cognitive capacity or enthusiasm to do so but b ecause th eseproposed chang estoth endisisareheinousand should n ot go unaddress ed. nedis is enoughofanightmarefordisableaustraliansto try an daccess,and then prop osedNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme Amendment(SecuringtheNDISForFutureGener ations )Bill_ _2026willonlymakeit harderforcitizenswhoneeditmostt ogetthecaret hattheyneed .Before we begin,letusfirst address them – frankly shady -behaviouro ftheCom mit tee.TheAustralianGovernmentGuidePolicyImpactAnalysisstatesthatconsultationsshouldoccurforminimum of30days.T hecommitteehavegrantedustwo weeks.Foracommunitydisabledpeople andtheircarerswho needmore supportnotlesscutting this consult time in halfi s unjust.Onewoul damostthink thecommit teewishestorushThe Bill forwardwithaslittleinputfrom disabled communities as possible.Sohyisth SchemeAmendmentaconcernforme? I have been living with an adult-onset disability for six years.I am unable toworkcommute,socialiselearnort live like a ‘normal’ human being.And whileIhaveexhausteda llmeansoftreatment from pharmaceutical physical supports to physio-and psychotherapyto medical trials my care team hav e foughttograntmeaccesstotheprogram. IAM still considered‘ notdisabledenough’in theseyesofthenDISTo be granted access toprog ram.ImastillfightingtobegrantedsupportIneedtod function day-to-day.Thesuggested changes will make it even harderfor peoplelikeme who desperatelyneeadaidtobeapprovedf orNDISsupportandwill potentially disqualify otherswhorelyonittoscrapesomequalityo flifetogether. Th issues ofgreatestconcer ntomeare:

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission

Impractical Assessment Tools

The Bill shifts assessment from whole-of-person consideration to a single eligible impairment (Schedule Part3). Read together with eligibility thresholds parts9, tool used conduct functional capacity assessments must be capable sufficiently identifying whether person meets threshold that single impairment.

Named assessment is Instrument Classification and Assessment Support Needs I-CAN requires validation ensure will identify all people disability including those whose needs may fluctuating episodic not captured through point-in-time assessment culturally appropriate First Peoples With disability like many disabled people do have just one eligible impairment but cocktail conditions make normal life impossible That cocktails severity wax wane hour Sometimes am capable washing own hair other times it uncommon me shower two or three months because upright wet area poses serious health risk If ICAN assessment does capture persons disability right time participant found ineligible undercounted no guarantee result reflects actual experience This style of assessment also encourages participants engage activities trigger flare-ups condition making them feel worse name trying get support this assessment style change accommodate fluctuations disabilities avoiding hurting participants/applicants

Narrowing Funding Criteria The Bill changes rules for existing NDIS participants makes harder challenge some decisions about supports funding It restricts when can request reassessment removes review rights automatic plan renewals Makes reductions unreviewable Schedule Parts18 Combined restrictions on reassessments requests part2 Automatic plans without review rights part5 Unreviewable funding reductions part4 Existing participants face narrower criteria significantly fewer avenues to challenge decisions their supports

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission

If funding reduced automatically…

If a participant’s funding is reduced or renewed automatically without challengeability due to lack thereof, people might struggle getting extra support when circumstances change. This instability leaves thousands disabled Australians uncertain about affordability next month: ‘Will my supports cut?’. No-one living under such duress—especially those already dealing daily stress from disabilities—should.

Safeguards needed:

Safeguards must ensure participants don’t lose access unless equivalent alternatives exist with independent review rights prior exit decisions & unscheduled reassessments preserved.

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

Submission 1563

Consult with disabled people and their carers, and co-design the NDIS with them to make the system accessible and fair.

Yours in frustration,

• Disabled-and-Supportless*