Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill

Name: redacted I am a:

• ☐ Disabled person
• ☐ Family member / supporter
• ☐ Clinician
• ☐ Other: ___________________

Short summary

I strongly oppose this bill. It is dangerous, ableist and cruel. It is NOT the participants who cause waste of taxpayer money; it is PROVIDERS who abuse the system. The bill completely misses the point of wanting to save money by targeting participants.

My lived experience

I live with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), an aggressive form of MS.I’ve participated since 2018 – my diagnosis year.As disease worsens, so does my disability needs change. Up until now when deciding plans & supports, NDIS has been reasonable even considerate.The evidence for my condition can’t be denied.Evidence from medical community shows large impact impossible ignore.My experiences as participant have largely positive direct dealings scheme.Main challenge finding adequate support workers.Need help daily household chores like cleaning washing clothes tidying up meal lunchbox prep kids access also require community. Lucky found wonderful support workers but luck alone makes possible which concerning.Disability work force untrained only need police check vulnerable people card good go.Overwhelming number do not receive or seek training in disability support.There are no guidelines governmental body ensures.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill [2026] Submission 17

support workers behave ethically and morally appropriate which leaves the door wide open to abuse and exploitation. In my life, I only experienced ‘light’ misconduct. I had support workers come into my house and impose their rules on me and my children. They disrespected my house (which is supposed to be my safe place)by re-arrangingmy furniture kitchenin waythat suited thembut notmeandreducingmy own home unsafefor myselfasa result.They gave unsolicited parenting advice judged decisionsI made.Such microaggressions are difficultto dealthwithespecially whenone considers thate power imbalancetostartwit.I amtheoneneeding help soiam intheweakerpositionalready.Idependont he support worker’s labourtolive mylife.Thisisachallengingsituationforsomeone who used tobefiercely independent.Itishumiliatingtonethetreated withsuch disrespectand contemptfromthepoplewho claimtocareformehavebest interestatheart.Ableismisonentrenchednormalised that disabled people areno longer consideredpeople rightsor abilities makede cisions form themselves.Onemight argue beingjudgeddisrespected no big deal it happens everybody.But unlike‘everybody’tthishappens tomeinyownhomepeopel waltzinandthemmisconduct hiddenaway from world.Unlike someone working ina corporate work environment,can’t go HR department forsupport.Thereissupervising body ensures code of conduct upheld alltimes.Once more only luck thanks strong laws policies havenufferedmore severe abuse.Not everyone is lucky.Peoledied due these huge loopholes nobody bothers closed – itsonlydisabled peoplathatsuffer right? Nobiggie apparently. The lack training education awareness does present actual safety concernsfor me.As my disability worsen,Iambecomingfall risk. A large numberof support workers do NOT have any fall preventiontraining kind There iss requirement encouragement atall them acquire training either.Inmy case this has meantworkers trying liftme up dragging over door step or having let lie on floor because they didn’ know how help Presently Ihave call ambulance so the paramedics canhelp m eup.It distresses greatly relywonderful but hugelyoverworked underpaid service.This could avoided if there werelaws in place requiring support workersto haves propereducation regular training supervision.Againluck only ensured haven’t been gravely injured yet But run day public health system willdeals with outcome that probablycould avoid.

My view of this Bill

This bill is dangerous, ableist and cruel. I oppose it strongly because it misses the point completely. It is correct that there is a concerning amount of misuse within the scheme, howerver,the main offenders are PROVIDERSandnotparticipants.TheNDIS has managed to tighten some rulesbut often AFTER something devastating happened ,likethe deathof Ms Ann-Marie Smithin Adelaide.MsSmith lived with cerebral palsy anda tiedtoachairwhere she eventually died.Herdeathcould have been prevented ifthen DIDS hadcaredtoput proper laws in placethat dictate appropriate trainingandeducation for supportworkers .MsSmith’s casealso highlighted what kind o unethicalandunprofessional service providers exist,right under thenoseofth e NDISands its policy makers.In my own experience as aparticipant,Ihadserviceproviders trytosell me backyardequipment,suggesting I usemy fundingforit.Thesame provideralsosent someone every two weeks tomowmylawnwinterwhenittypically doesn’t grow formonthsdue topersistent coldweather.It didnothingformotherthan loweringavailable funds quicklyunnecessarily The ND IS would do well to examinecheckprovid ers who workwith participants livingwit h intellectualdisability.Atleastincanberra thereseems tobepattern questionab le provid er swho seemstargetthose theyperceiv eas easy targets becausethey live wit hin telle ctual disability. It is concerning that prov iders canexist whoenpty a participant’sfunds,leaving themwithout crucialsupport,yet the providerswere ablet purchase newcarsandabe ach house!This example does notex istin isolation.Disabilitysupport(muchlikeaged care)attracts lovely and caring peoplebutthe arebeing overshadowed by providers workerswhoperceive th en DIDSitsparticipantsasaneasywaytomakea quick buck.This bill willdo NOTHINGto ensureparticip antswillbe protectedfromsuch questionable characters ,even though such protectionwouldnot onlybenef it part icipants but woul dalso savethegovernment money .Ifth egovern mentcaredtot actuallylisten todisabledpeople,wecould easilyadvise whereando howmoneycanbesaved.Thiss bil most certainlyiSNOTthewaytog o.