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

Submission 1680

Submission to the Committee Secretariat

NDIS Amendment Bill 2026

Reason for making this submission

I am writing as a person with fluctuating psychosocial condition and close friend/long-term ally of individuals relying upon NDIS scheme. Am not accessing it now but may need future access due to its vital role supporting independence/safety/community participation. Supporting sustainability while deeply concerned about profound compounding pressure these proposed changes place on people w/disabilities & their families/friends networks.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission

Submission: [1680]

appointments and social activities, forcing them into a state of financial stress and lowered capacity for work and wellbeing. Worse yet, my friend may no longer be able to access social events which would impact their mental health and connection.

Erosion of independence and community inclusion

The issue: The potential transition toward algorithmic or automated decision-making processes for determining support needs is deeply alarming.The introduction of automated assessment systems

The issue:The impact on participants,

friendsand family:\Insteadof engagingwith our friends as peers insocialandequalsettings,weforcedintologisticalcareroles.Trueinclusionmeansparticipants havestructuralsupporttoliveautonomously.Whenfundingcuts reducethis autonomy,it shrinksthe participant’s worldforcestheir socircleto becomeacrisismanagementnetworkratherthanacomunityopeers. Accessingthexistingmentalhealthsystemispatchyatbest.Iknowthegovernmenthas previouslyputresourcesinto serviceslargelytargetedyoungpeople.Older peopleare expectedtousepaidprofessionalsorcharities.Giventheirillnessesoftenreducether esourcesavailabletodo so thereisa riskofoflotopleopelfallingthroughthenet.If the NDIS isnolongerable tounderbridgegap thenhowisthegov ernmentprovisioningfor these peopl?Isthereperhapsawaythatwhole systemcanbecome moreflexibleso thatitisan bothandsituations rather than an eitherone?

The gendered nature ofthese reformsThese concerns are not evenly distributed across th population.WomenWithDisabilities Australia (WWDA) has identifiedtha Bill risks deepening existing inequalities for women, girls,andgenderdiversepeoples withdisability.Theirs submissionnotes tha reformscouldparticularlyexclude peopleswith fluctuating,

pyschosocial ,chronic,painrelated andtraumarelated disabilities - conditions

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

Submission 1680

• People may lose access to supports before any genuine alternatives exist.

The costs and labour of care will shift onto families -and within families this burden falls disproportionately on women.

Future rules assessment tools and evidence frameworks risk reproducing existing gender bias if designed without proper co-design. I agree that the Bill must not proceed until comprehensive gender impact analysis completed made public; also with women girls & gender-diverse people disability. Source Women With Disabilities Australia WWDA Gendered Risks in NDIS Amendment May 2026 available www.wdda.org.au

Thriving Kids welcome but safe substitute yet

I acknowledge Thriving Kids program as genuinely encouraging well-intentioned investment joint $4 billion commitment Australian state territory governments build earlier identification children aged under developmental delay autism long needed However I am deeply concerned sequencing reforms Thriving Kids scheduled begin rollout October national scale expected January government stated changes NDIS arrangements coincide when program reaches scale “expected at scale” proven tested shown effective Tightening eligibility before Thriving Kids demonstrated can reliably catch support would otherwise fall through gap dangerous Program still rolling out settling service design engaging communities cannot treated adequate safety net removing hard-won NDIS Supports Urge Committee ensure no change NDIS arrangement take effect until independently evaluated successfully meeting needs children Families it is designed serve. The NDIS remain reliable backstop clear evidence alternative functioning Source: Australian Government Department of Health Disability Ageing, Thriving Kids Available health.gov.au/our-work/thriving-kids Conclusion and recommendations Reducing participant funding or restricting access does eliminate basic human need for support Instead false budget savings achieved by tightening eligibility simply

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

Submission 1680

be redirected to crisis intervention services, emergency departments, and acute mental health facilities when participants fracture under the strain. I urge the Committee to: • Halt any moves to automate funding assessmentsand mandatethatalldecisions retain comprehensive, empathetic human oversight. • Acknowledge therereal limitsofinformalsupportensurethatsustainability assessm entsexplicitlyaccountforthe limitedcapacityoffriendsandyamilytoabsorbextracare hourswithoutfacingburnout. • Retain flexible definitions offunctional capacityaccuratelycapturefluctuating an dpsychosocialconditionsandreale-worldenvironments. • Maintain flexibility in funding budgets soparticipantscanchoosethesupports th atgenuinelyworkforthem. • Co-design all implementationmandateanynewrulesorlistsoffapproved supportsaredevelopeddire ctlywithpeople withdisabilitiesan dtheiradvocates . Explicitly factorinflow-oncostsand accountforeconomicmental healthimpacts oftheseamendmentson informalcarersands t ate-fundedcrisisservices. Thankyouforconsideringthissubmission.IurgetheCommitteetoe nsurethats ust ainabilitymeasuresdonotcomeathelastothedights,dignity,andwellbeingo fNDIS particip ant sand theirlovedones.BrisbaneQLD