NDIA Accountability Project

Prioritising capital investment over recurring services

‹ PrevPage 1 of 2 · Source p. 1Next ›

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

Submission 1813

29 May 2026

SUBMISSION: NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AMENDMENT (SECURING THE NDIS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS)

BILL 2026

My name is . I am writing to you with my concerns on coming changes to the NDIS and wanted to contribute my thoughts re: your consideration of ‘Thriving Kids’ and the NDIS. I am a Retired Educator and Principal (40+ years experience), passionate about inclusion for all, and I have been fortunate to experience first - hand successful outcomes for former students, family and friends where I have been an advocate for inclusion and lifelong independence. The following were particularly significant highlights related to inclusive education for me professionally:

  • 1970s: Participant in foundational research at Mt Lawley CAE on literacy/numeracy curricula for special education.
  • 1990s: Led the implementation of Special Education Programs (SEP) in Gladstone Region at Biloela SS, moving students from segregated units to inclusive regular classrooms with partnered leadership teams supporting inclusive practice, explicit instruction and behaviour management programs including multi agency supports from medical to therapist resourcing from Early Childhood Development Programs (ECDP) and whole-school inclusive frameworks documenting processes used as state-wide guides.
  • Leadership: I have advocated and implemented successful inclusive practices in each school I have been appointed to.

I wish to urge you to consider consultation of as many parents of children with diverse needs prior to making your decisions and to consider some of my experiences and thoughts and possibly investigate the use of many exciting and varied assistive technologies now available for independent autonomy for those in need.

Investment Vs Expense: The NDIS must pivot from a transactional “lifestyle support” model to a long-term “investment” model. By prioritising high-impact early intervention, clinical precision, and assistive technology, the scheme can replace lifelong recurring costs with one-off functional independence.

1. Prioritising Capital Investment over Recurring Services

  • One-Off Independence: Funding high-quality wheelchairs, AI-driven communication tools, and mobility aids (like autonomous driving/walking tech for the blind) provides 24/7 freedom at a fixed cost.
  • The ‘Care Trap’: Current spending on hourly support workers often results in “keeping participants busy” rather than building skills. We must redirect funds from passive supervision to active capacity-building tools.

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

Submission 1813

  • Remediation & Surgery: The scheme should consider funding remediating surgeries that lead to permanent increases in independence, creating massive long-term savings for the taxpayer.

Clinical Precision and Professional Standards

  • AHPRA Alignment: Disability-specific training (physical, cognitive, or behavioural) should be restricted to registered clinicians (Physios, EPs, etc.) to ensure evidence-based outcomes.
  • Objective Funding: Move away from “grey area” lifestyle requests toward funding tied strictly to clinical assessments of physical, intellectual, and sensory needs.
  • End the “De-skilling”: The current market-led model prioritises profit over pedagogical and clinical depth. We must return to expert-led multidisciplinary teams.

Education as the Gateway to Economic Participation

  • Inclusive Integrity: Re-invest in placing specialists and aides back into educational and workplace settings. True inclusion requires explicit instruction and specialised technology, not just physical presence in a room.
  • Early Intervention (Birth to Prep): High-impact intervention from birth is the only way to shift the “deficit lens” to an “agency lens,” allowing children to enter the workforce and reduce lifelong government reliance.

Shifting from “Support” to “Agency”

  • The Deficit vs. Difference Lens: The system currently defaults to low-expectation “special programs.” It must instead provide the high-end tools—robotics, pedagogical apps, and specialized teaching—required for participants to thrive in competitive environments.

  • Consultation: The government must prioritise the voices of families and seasoned educators who understand the “educational arc” over providers looking for a “business opportunity.”

  • “It is difference, not deficit. The NDIS must be the vehicle that delivers agency as a right, not a luxury.”

Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to positive outcomes for all children and their families impacted by any change.

Yours sincerely,