National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1704
Submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
Re: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submitted by: Date: 27 May 2026 Privacy Preference: Please do not publish my name online -
Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Committee Members,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
I support the objective of placing the NDIS on a sustainable long-term footing. I acknowledge that inefficiencies, fraud and long-term sustainability need to be addressed. However, I do not support the proposed changes to the NDIS Act in their current form without significant amendments.
The limited time to consider highly complex legislation is unsatisfactory for both parliamentarians, participants, and the public. Given this limited time, I have been unable to address all the changes and their potential impacts and interactions.
Containing growth appears to be the major driver of the changes. While there are measures such as digital payments scheme which will address fraud, changes to provider registration will have marginal impacts as registered providers are the main source of NDIS fraud. The portrayal of participants as criminals and a burden has been distressing. There are missed savings opportunities for example such as fixing deep structural inefficiencies within the NDIS such as poor ICT integration, regular outages, double handling of information, and inability to correct information (See Marie Johnson Submission to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit Inquiry into the Administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, December 2025).
In this submission I will discuss: About me; My current supports and how they are used; Concerns regarding the proposed reforms; The likely impact on my life and wellbeing; Recommendations to improve the Bill; and Suggestions for improving the long-term sustainability of the NDIS.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1704
About Me My name is . I am a middle-aged woman diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 20 years ago and have been a NDIS participant since the scheme began. Although I am-no longer employed, I remain active in the MS peer support community and moderate an online forum for people with MS who are also NDIS participants.
I am deeply grateful for the support I currently receive through the NDIS. These supports allow me to maintain independence, remain connected to my community, and continue contributing meaningfully to society despite my disability.
My disability is permanent, lifelong, and progressive. There is currently no cure for MS. My condition fluctuates significantly from day to day, month to month and year to year. Environmental conditions such as heat and cold can also greatly affect my symptoms.
While MS and other neurological conditions share some common symptoms, they also affect each person differently. This makes assessing and measuring functional capacity difficult. A person with MS may appear capable one day and unable to function safely the next. Despite these fluctuations, the overall pattern of MS is one of increasing disability over time.
I am concerned that the proposed changes relating to functional capacity assessments, reassessments and funding restrictions may not adequately reflect the fluctuating and progressive nature of neurological disabilities like MS.
Current Community Participation Supports and Their Importance The NDIS has allowed my husband, who has been my primary carer, to remain fully employed until his recent retirement. I have surrendered my driver’s licence and now rely on others for transport and community access.
My current supports funded through Social and Community Participation assist me with: transportation to medical appointments including GP, specialist, and hospital visits; transportation for medical investigations such as MRIs, X-rays, ultrasounds and pathology; transportation to therapies including neuro-physiotherapy, musculoskeletal physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and podiatry; collecting medications; access to disability bathrooms; safe transfers from vehicles; safe mobilisation in the community; and memory prompting.
These supports are essential to maintaining my health, safety, and independence.
In-Home Supports My in-home supports currently assist with: general household cleaning; meal preparation; assistance with showering and dressing; changing bed and bathroom linen; laundry; and gardening.
These supports help me remain safely in my home and reduce the physical burden on both me and my husband.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1704
Impact on Therapy and Capacity Building Supports I oppose the proposed 50% reduction to social and community participation funding from October 2026.
I am particularly concerned about proposed changes that may reduce access to therapy and capacity building supports.
Therapies such as neuro-physiotherapy and hydrotherapy have helped me maintain both physical and cognitive function. These supports have enabled me to continue walking independently with assistive technology and to safely transfer despite my progressive condition.
Although I cannot walk long distances, a NDIS-funded recumbent e-tricycle allows me to cycle with my husband and participate socially with other cyclists. I have also been able to participate in the MS Queensland Brissie to Bay charity ride over shorter distances.
Exercise is not optional for me. It is an essential part of managing my condition and maintaining my functional capacity.
During periods of symptom exacerbation, my therapies help reduce the physical impacts and assist me to regain as much function as possible afterward. Without ongoing therapy, I believe my condition would deteriorate more quickly, resulting in increased hospital visits, greater dependence, and reduced quality of life.
Concerns About Proposed Community Support Funding Cuts In practice, these supports are not simply “social” activities. They are directly connected to my health, safety, and ability to function.
If my supports are reduced, it will become much harder for me to attend medical appointments, complete investigations and access allied health therapies that currently help keep me stable and out of hospital.
It has already been acknowledged these changes will increase burden on informal carers. Given my husband is ageing increasing this burden will at some point become unsustainable.
Mental Health and Social Isolation Exercise and community participation are also important for my mental wellbeing.
MS is a condition strongly associated with depression and anxiety. These are not simply emotional reactions to living with disability; they are biologically linked to the disease itself. The ability to leave my home, participate in the community and remain socially connected plays a significant role in protecting my mental health.
If supports are reduced and I become more isolated at home, I believe this will worsen depression and anxiety and place additional pressure on the broader health system.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1704
Current Capacity Building Daily Activity Supports and Their Importance Current therapies supports include: neuro-physiotherapy; musculoskeletal physiotherapy; hydrotherapy; and podiatry.
Concerns About Proposed Capacity Building Daily Activity Funding Cuts I oppose the proposed 10% cut to capacity building daily activity supports from October 2026.
I am particularly concerned about proposed changes that will reduce access to therapy and capacity building supports. This combined with the cuts to social and community participation funding will have a harmful effect.
Therapies such as neuro-physiotherapy and hydrotherapy have helped me maintain both physical and cognitive function. These supports have enabled me to continue walking independently with assistive technology and to safely transfer despite my progressive condition.
During periods of symptom exacerbation, my therapies help reduce the physical impacts and assist me to regain as much function as possible afterward. Without ongoing therapy, I believe my condition would deteriorate more quickly, resulting in increased hospital visits, greater dependence, and reduced quality of life.
I am concerned the multiple changes within the legislation this will result in a narrower interpretation of what qualifies as a disability-related support may reduce access to practical supports that are essential for maintaining independence and preventing deterioration.
Concerns About Reassessments and Other Service Systems I am also concerned about increased reassessments and greater reliance on other service systems.
Because MS fluctuates, snapshots of my functional capacity may not accurately reflect my real support needs. Assessments conducted on a “good day” may underestimate the assistance I require during periods of relapse, fatigue, or cognitive impairment.
I-CAN (Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs) has been proposed as the tool used by the NDIS for assessment and reassessment purposes. Peak advocacy and clinical bodies such as the Australian Psychological Society and Occupational Therapy Australia have raised concerns that the tool’s validation is narrow, noting that historically it has been most robustly evaluated on populations with intellectual disabilities. Use in other disability populations such as acquired brain injury and psychosocial disabilities may be unreliable. Use by assessors with no clinical skills will lead to inaccurate assessments and poor funding decisions.
I am concerned that people with progressive neurological conditions may face repeated reassessments without meaningful changes in prognosis or recovery potential. This creates stress and uncertainty for participants while also increasing administrative burden.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1704
Also, I am worried about the assumption that mainstream systems will absorb supports removed from the NDIS. In my experience, many health and community systems are already stretched and unable to provide the consistency or disability-specific support that the NDIS currently enables.
I am also concerned about reduced flexibility within plans and tighter definitions around disability- related supports. MS is unpredictable. My support needs can change rapidly depending on fatigue, mobility, cognition, and environmental factors. Flexibility within my plan is critical to responding safely to these fluctuations.
A more rigid funding structure may leave people like me without timely support when our conditions worsen unexpectedly.
Recommendations I respectfully recommend that the Committee consider the following amendments and protections:
- Do not proceed with the proposed 50% reduction to Social and Community Participation funding.
- Do not proceed with the proposed 10% reduction to Capacity Building Daily Activity funding.
- Ensure therapy and capacity building supports remain accessible for people with progressive neurological conditions such as MS.
- Preserve reasonable flexibility within NDIS plans so participants can respond to fluctuating conditions safely and effectively.
- Ensure functional capacity assessments properly account for fluctuating and episodic disabilities.
- Limit unnecessary reassessments for participants with permanent and progressive conditions where recovery is not expected.
- Ensure disability-related supports are interpreted broadly enough to maintain independence, safety and community participation.
- Commission a forensic audit of NDIS systems, procurement, automation, and data governance
- Avoid shifting participants into mainstream systems that are already under strain and may not be able to provide equivalent supports.
Suggestions for Improving Sustainability I support efforts to improve the sustainability of the NDIS. However, I believe sustainability should focus on reducing fraud, improving administrative efficiency, and ensuring funds are directed toward supports that genuinely maintain function and independence.
In my case, ongoing therapy and support reduce hospital admissions, maintain mobility, and help delay greater care needs. Preventative and capacity-building supports can reduce long-term costs to both the NDIS and the broader health system.
Conclusion The NDIS has allowed me to live with dignity, independence, and community connection despite a progressive neurological condition.
I ask the Committee to carefully consider how the proposed changes may affect people with fluctuating and progressive disabilities such as MS.
I respectfully request that the Bill not proceed in its current form unless amendments are made to protect participant choice and control, continuity of care, therapy access, plan flexibility, and appropriate disability supports.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1704
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,
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