National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 177
I am writing as the parent of two autistic children living in QLD.
I am submitting this to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs in response to the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS) Bill 2026.
I am writing about Schedule 1 of the Bill, which requires functional capacity to be assessed “without assistance” from supports, assistive technology or environmental adaptations, as far as possible. My child currently relies on ongoing therapy supports, a support worker , visual schedules and sensory supports to manage their daily life. Without these supports, you cannot communicate, complete morning routines safely, access school and the community and in turn develop capacity to engage in society. These supports are not optional extras.They make what is necessary for my child’s day-to-day functioning. If my child were assessed without considering that they have those supports available, it could lead NDIA determine low needs — then remove funding creating stability. This circular logic is dangerous because it appears someone has lower needs precisely when effective support exists.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 177
reassessment decisions, and to ensure that no automated or administrative assessment can override clinical evidence from a qualified practitioner. Further to this I am concerned about the impact to women as carers and their ability to gain employment. The NDIA’s own quarterly data (March 2025) shows that carer employment rose 6 percentage points –from 46% to 52%-with access to the NDIS. This is not coincidence. Formal support enables primary carers to participate in paid work. When support is cut, that participation is reversed. This is the direct documented relationship between NDIS funding and workforce participation for carers. Primary carers of autistic children and adults are disproportionately women.In 2018 there were an estimated 860，000primarycarersofpeoplewithdisabilityinAustralia.The majorityarewomen.Thesecarersconsistentlyreport reducedorceasedpaidwork,reducedsuperannuationphysicalandmentalhealthdecline,andlong-termfinancial disadvantage they do not recover.from.I personally reduced my working hours to accommodate theneedtodeliversupportstomychildren-I have lost income,careerprogressionandsuperannuati onI willnotgetback.T he proposed changes inthisBill-including pre-setfundingtiersforautisticchildren,the requirementto demonstrate ‘appropriate treatment,’ anda diversionoffieldunder9 offtheNDIS-will each individually increasethecareburdenon families.Togethertheywill push moreprimarcars-predominantlywomentoutoftheworkforceentirely.The Bill makes this worse still through new provisions insubsections34(IG)anda subsections (IH),which create a legal presumptionthat parentsaresponsibleforthoprovidingsupervision,personal care ,transport emotional support,behaviouralsuppport,a ndotherday-to-day assistancetotheirchildren with disability.Undersubsectiona( IJ ), the NDIS would be directed tonignore th e pressure this places one family when deciding whether t o fund as up port.Families are already experiencing there sultsofthisapproach.Duringasenate hearingoneligibility reassessments,CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore shared this account from afamily:
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 177
This is a gendered economic harm. I ask the Committee to remove subsections 34(1G, 34(1H) and** * Families like mine are already at breaking point.The deaths of autistic children in Perth in January 2026 and Campbelltown in May 2026are evidenc eofwhat happensw hen suportis withdrawnfromfamiliesswho haveno capcityleft.ThisBillmustnotmakethatmorelikely.