Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026

Submitted by: A parent and registered physiotherapist*, Melbourne,* Victoria*

I am writing as both a parent and a healthcare professional who has seen firsthand what the NDIS makes possible and what is at stake if access is reduced.

I have two young children, two whom have accessed the NDIS through early canvassation one now has ongoing access My eldest child is autistic and currently at high risk disengaging from school My youngest has already benefited from early supports despite less than year accessing therapy AS A PHYSIO THERAPIST I also work alongside many therapists whose practices are built around supporting NDIS participants and see first-hand value can be added participant’s lives though increased independence autonomy. The impact on our family immediate real I work part-time not preference but necessity my children would cope with after-school care multiple days week which limits capacity return full time work We constantly manage burnout parents children The supports my children receive through NDIS luxury they keep us functioning don’t additional capacity do more ourselves Between myself husband we cannot work hours without sacrificing stability home every action change consequence feel tightrope financially comfortable financial burden of supporting cost services impossible cover mortgage Medicare funding for these services make significant difference say fortunate families in about come If my oldest disengages school omnipresent downstream consequences significant future mine Parent managing crisis cannot work lost productivity tax revenue greater long-term government early intervention asking now Case clear building childrens capacity now their ability to regulate connect learn directly shapes adults’ participation Reduced access mental health income support, crisis care future Cost avoided deferred compounded As physiotherapist seen happens when NDIS access tightening Small businesses close experienced clinicians leave sector capacity deliver early intervention shrinks harder expensive rebuild later Workforce implications huge unemployed allied workers small business that

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

Submission 1756

the government invested huge amounts of money to support through Covid will be unable to continue. I urge the Committee to consider the full economic and human cost of reducing NDISaccess, not just the immediate budget impact. Supporting Australians with disabilityparticipatefullyintheircommunitiesis not aburdenon theeconomy.Itisaninvestmentinit.TheverypeoplewhoaremostlikelytoloseTheirfundingwiththisdecisionaretosothatarethemostlikelyto losethecapacitytoworkandenduprelyingondisabilitysupportpayments,needingadditionalsupporthroughthemedicalsystemandonlongercontributingas ataxpayerdueto their inability toworke withoutthesupportstheyhavehad in place witheNDIS funding.I ask thatyou fullyconsider thelongtermimplicationsof reduc ingworkforcecapabilityofs ignificantproportionoft hepopulationwhenmakingdecisionsaround thisBillThank youfortheadportunitytomake thissubmission.