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

Submission 1787

I am frightened now that I will lose NDIS. I am autistic and I have bipolar. When I am unwell, I don’t get out of bed. Sometimes I have gone as long as a week without showering. I find brushing my teeth very difficult due to sensory issues, but I try to do it once a day even though it’s uncomfortable.I don’t go to the supermarket alone because I find it too overwhelming.There are too many sounds and people there; making decisions is hard if no one helps. Getting lost or confused happens often.Even going somewhere else can be tough sometimes.The lighting in stores makes things worse.Sounds like alarms make everything feel louder and more intense.I travel regularly between Sydney & Perth visiting family.When flying, getting from home to airport causes anxiety.We arrive early fearing missing flights.Security checks cause discomfort especially being touched.Worry about something bad happening constantly.Use noise-cancelling headphones but need someone nearby case announcements missed.Don’t sleep well before flight due stress.On occasion became overwhelmed at airports sat on floor crying.Long time.Flying plane seat only safe leaving belongings.My husband supports when he flies with me.If not him then Support Worker needed (hubby doesn’t always take work breaks).Finding tasks overwhelming at home.Starts them but never finishes.House becomes cluttered adding pressure.Struggle finding items needing others help.Like living Mornington Peninsula socializing solo isn’t easy.No local friends keep contact NSW over phone.Join groups craft community want support hours for basic tasks appointments.Relying heavily daily life managed by my support workers.Getting to appointments managing routine accessing community staying top of health.They also assist feeling overwhelmed helping follow through tasks.Without this support would struggle manage daily life likely becoming unwell.

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

Submission 1787

I contact my Social Worker redacted if I am feeling down or distressed. She helps me regulate my emotions and work through things when I feel overwhelmed.

I also rely on my Support Coordinator to organise and manage my supports, including my support workers, therapists and appointments. I find it very difficult to keep track of everything, make decisions, and communicate with services, and I become overwhelmed easily. I also struggle to follow through with tasks and appointments without support. My Support Coordinator helps make sure everything is in place and that my supports are working together. Without this support, I would struggle to stay engaged with services and attend appointments.

I recently got married. My husband works full-time and supports me when he can, but I worry about being a burden on him. We do simple things together like going to the club or visiting friends occasionally, but most of the time I stay at home.

I attempted to study a Masters in Social Work but had to stop because it became too overwhelming. I found it difficult to manage the workload and travel requirements, and it negatively affected my mental health. The last time I worked was when I was 26, and I was only able to maintain employment for a short period. When I am at home, I spend time doing art, being with my dog, or watching things online like craft videos.

I enjoy going to exercise physiology and have noticed real improvements in both my mental health and physical health. Over the past 14 months I have reduced my weight significantly, which I had previously gained due to the side effects of my medication. This support helps me stay motivated, manage my routine, and improve my overall wellbeing. Without it, I would struggle to maintain my progress and my mental health would likely decline. I would like to continue with this support.

I miss my parents, who were my main support for most of my life. I lived with them until I was 41. My mum now has dementia and my dad cares for her full-time, so they are no longer able to support me in the same way. I visit them when I can, but I don’t have the same level of family support anymore. Because of this, I rely heavily on my formal supports to manage my life and stay well. Without these supports in place, I would struggle to cope. My life has never been better than it is now, and this is because I have the right supports in place. These supports help me stay on top of my daily life, manage my mental health, and stay engaged in the community. I am worried that if my supports were reduced, I would struggle and things would go backwards.

I believe there are better ways to save money for NDIS than cutting people from the scheme. I’ve listed these here:

• Stop hiring expensive elite law firms to fight people from accessing NDIS. Often the law firms are charging more then people even want in their plan to begin with. Much of the time they lose anyway, but not before causing participants a great deal of pain and costing the government a great deal of money.
• Train your staff better. A local area coordinator only has six weeks training. Planner and LAC’s commonly make mistakes on plans. To get changes we need to go to the ART again costing the government more money. Make Planners and LAC’s specialise

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill

Submission: Submission-1787

of disabilities. No one knows everything about all disabilities.Staff lack specialised knowledge, an understanding specific causes inaccurate information and plans needing expensive ART reviews. 3.Why they using private ‘consultants’? Employing with skills directly NDIS cheaper than consultants’. I’d like transparency on these consultants doing. 4.Ludicrous staffing caps mean paying current employees huge amounts overtime get through backlog.Overtime cost more overworked make mistakes.This leads to more ART reviews.The hiring freeze means when leave due work cannot be replaced creating more already overwork.No wonder happen. 5.Get rid costs registered focus what services participants Right now it $16k register once independent auditors hired.Most sole traders do amount especially if part-time three less participants would have access regional rural areas need upskilling existing workers free ensure enough skilled meet needs.Audiating face doesn’t prove good provider wellbeing participant Ps biggest rort experienced was labour hire company operating California USA outsourcing local area that could not trusted turn.I hired them because top google result search for providers cleaners in my local so can be a registered and cheating the system. Stop making endless reports.Proven our disability permanence shouldn’t proving annually.Costs money out of plan has factored into ask unnecessary usually unread staff busy 7.Save $$$ working consult people actually use system smart provide strategies save money compromise supports real co-design needed lip service inquiry example accessibility time support write submission.