National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1614
NDIS Amendment Bill Submission
To the Committee,
I am writing this submission in response to the proposed NDIS Amendment Bill and the changes relating to how permanent disability is assessed under the NDIS, including the requirement that participants undertake “all appropriate treatment” before a disability can be considered permanent.
I am a single parent caring for my young daughter, who is currently accessing the NDIS through the Early Intervention pathway due to significant developmental concerns and support needs. She is awaiting assessment for possible Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
My daughter is non-verbal with very limited gestures and significant communication difficulties. She has major delays in both receptive and expressive language, meaning she struggles to understand language as well as express herself. She is also highly sensory seeking and requires a high level of support throughout daily life.
I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to how permanent disability is assessed under the NDIS, particularly the requirement that a person must try “all appropriate treatment” before a disability can be considered permanent.
In reality, many families cannot access the therapies their children need, even when they are trying their absolute best. Before receiving NDIS support, my daughter only received three speech therapy sessions and occupational therapy through the Child Health Clinic over an entire year. We were later told her needs were too high and complex for the level of support they could provide and that she needed more intensive services.
The waiting period for NDIS support was extremely difficult. Even after gaining access to the NDIS, it has still been very hard to find services. We have been unable to access face-to-face speech therapy and have now been on the NDIS for nearly a year. The only reason my daughter currently receives speech therapy at all is because we found an amazing online provider.
This is why the wording around “all appropriate treatment” worries me so much. Families should not risk losing support because services are unavailable, waitlists are too long, providers are full, or regional families cannot access specialists nearby. Many parents are already doing everything they can in very difficult circumstances.
My daughter also could not cope in a kindergarten setting due to her support needs, sensory difficulties, and communication barriers. At this stage, a mainstream school environment would not be manageable for her, and homeschooling appears to be our only realistic option to meet her needs safely and appropriately.
I worry these changes will create additional pressure and uncertainty for families already struggling to access basic supports. Therapies such as speech and occupational therapy are not cures. They are essential supports that help children communicate, regulate emotions, develop life skills, and participate in everyday life as much as possible.
Children with significant developmental delays, suspected autism, and high support needs should not lose access to early intervention because families cannot access every possible treatment or because progress does not meet unrealistic expectations.
I ask the committee to reconsider the wording around “appropriate treatment” and ensure that vulnerable children and families are protected, particularly those facing service shortages, long waitlists, regional barriers, and high support needs.
Thank you for considering my submission.