Submission to the Senate Inquiry

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 May 25, 2026

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

Submission 157

Access barriers impacting treatment access.

To accessing treatment including long waitlists workforce shortages geographic limitations financial constraints this is particularly relevant in mental health neurodevelopmental spaces where access specialised services already extremely limited These provisions risk delaying essential supports during critical periods children adolescents They also fail recognise many disabilities lifelong improvement coping functioning without removing underlying disability support needs Limited access alternative supports The bill assumes alternatives will meet participant needs if NDIS reduced reality experienced clinicians families Public health mental education community services significantly overstretched Many rely precisely because others cannot provide timely accessible or specific support Removing limiting NDIS access ensuring appropriate funded risks leaving highly vulnerable people without support altogether Concerns regarding planning changes and reassessments restrictions are particularly concerning Disability functional capacity not static Participants frequently experience changes due developmental transitions deteriorating informal supports school transitions burnout behavioural escalation family breakdown housing instability physical decline Restricting re-assessment significant ongoing changes prevents participants from receiving adequate adjustments proposal running out funding early itself justify especially clinical safeguard perspective Likely result increased crisis presentations carer burnout disengagement hospitalisation ultimately increasing pressure other systems creating higher costs

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

Submission 157

Section headings removed or corrected based upon OCR output.

Subsection: Concerns Regarding Ministerial Powers And Reduced Safeguards

I hold serious concerns regarding the extent of powers proposed to be granted to the Minister including ability introduce funding caps alter supports through legislative instruments change pricing structures make significant operational changes after passage legislation These appear excessively broad reducing transparency accountability protections particular concern ability reduce below what has already been determined reasonable necessary This fundamentally changes purpose scheme creates substantial uncertainty participants families providers Ability plans suspended revoked where deemed uncontactable raises safeguarding particularly those with psychosocial disability cognitive impairment histories homelessness risk executive functioning difficulties communications impairments many people most reliant support also likely struggle administrative processes ### Subsection: Concerns Regard Reversal Eastham Removal Whole Person Approaches I am concerned reversal whole person approach confirmed CEO NDIA v Eastham [2026] FCA 147 In clinical practice disabilities do not occur isolation Participants frequently experience multiple interacting impairments collectively impact functioning participation regulation safety communication independence Attempt artificially separate which cause need does reflect lived reality will create confusion inconsistency inequity planning decisions For autism ADHD psychosocial intellectual trauma chronic health conditions impairments often overlap interact complex ways Supports effective when address participant within real-life environment collection isolated diagnoses Proposed changes creating fragmented inadequate arrangements fail meet needs ultimately reduce functional outcomes and participation ### Section: Concerns Effective Beneficial Supports The proposed prioritising generalised peer-reviewed evidence over lived experience treating clinician evidence concerning Many neurodevelopmental psychological interventions require highly individual approaches Clinical outcome dependent on sensory profile history style capacity environment therapeutic relationship rarely single standard intervention pathway universally

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

Submission 157

Reducing the weight given to treating clinicians and participant outcomes risks excluding supports that are demonstrably beneficial in practice simply because large-scale evidence is limited or emerging.

Conclusion While I support efforts to improve consistency, reduce fraud and ensure the sustainability of the NDIS, I am concerned that the proposed Bill prioritises financial containment over participant wellbeing, functional outcomes and safety.

The proposed amendments risk:‣ reducing access to the Scheme for people with genuine disability-related functional impairment;‣ increasing administrative burden and barriers for participants and families;‣ undermining individualised and whole-of-person support approaches;‣ reducing participant safeguards and review rights;‣ shifting responsibility onto already overwhelmed families and informal supports;‣ increasing pressure on under-resourced mainstream systems;and‣ creating poorer long-term outcomes for participants and communities.I urge the Senate Committee to carefully reconsider these proposed amendments and undertake broader consultation with participants, families, clinicians, disability advocates and small providers working directly within the sector before progressing legislation of this scale and significance.The NDIS should remain grounded in individualised, evidence-informed and person-centred support, with appropriate safeguards to ensure sustainability does not come at the expense of participant safety, dignity and meaningful participation.Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission and for considering the perspectives of clinicians, participants and families directly impacted by these proposed reforms.Yours sincerely,

Carrie Hardie Occupational Therapist Owner, Elevate Allied HealthElevate Allied Health