National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1740
To whom this may concern,
I am an early career paediatric speech pathologist working in private practice in Sydney metro, with approximately one year of experience. My caseload is mixed and NDIS-heavy, including autistic children, children with ADHD, developmental delay, speech sound disorders, and a broad age range from toddlers through to late adolescence.
I support the intent of NDIS reforms to improve sustainability and ensure funding is used effectively. In practice, I also see how essential timely, consistent allied health support is for children’s communication development, participation, and family wellbeing.
A key concern is the impact of reduced or delayed access to early intervention and ongoing supports. Many children make steady progress through consistent relationship-based therapy that relies on repetition and generalisation across home school, community settings when therapy paused due to funding constraints; progress often slowed lost particularly those who require ongoing support maintain functional communication skills;
Also observed snapshot-style reassessments do not always reflect fluctuating nature disability many present differently depending sensory load fatigue anxiety environment masking result function difficulties full day settings captured brief assessments:
In some cases families experienced reductions loss despite ongoing needs interrupted therapy regression increased behavioural distress reduce participation at school communities emotional burden repeatedly demonstrating significant;
Broader system consideration: When early interventions maintenance limited can escalate over time increasing demand schools services mental health systems impacting parents’ ability participate workforce, It important note according Speech Pathology Australia around 60 percent work private practice changes destabilise private allied delivery directly affect capacity waitlists equitable care; Overall reform strengthen sustainability balanced approach protects early intervention recognises fluctuating disability ensures with ongoing functional continue receive meaningful support.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1740
KindRegards,
Charlotte Murdoch-Evans (she/her)
Speech Therapist
Sydney Clinic: | Address |
|——————|
| Street: *Alexandra*
| City/Town: Hunter’s Hill
State/Country: NSW Australia
Postcode: NSW-2110**
Office Phone:\t +[phone number]
Email:\t sydney@leapfrogtherapy.com
Website:\t https://www.leapfrogtherapy.com