National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1833
Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill
2026 My name is [Name Withheld], and I am a single working mother caring for two children with significant neurodevelopmental disabilities. Both of my children are participants in the NDIS.
Even with supports in place, our family lives under constant pressure, annd I hhave experieenced severe carer burnout deppressionand sucidality while tryingto keepmychildren safe anmd maintaing some levelof employmntent. Iam writingbecauseiam deeply concerned aboutthe proposed changesinthenNDIS Ammendment(Securingth eNDSforFutureGeneratonsBill) 2026anwhat they will meanfamilies like mine.I do not believe thisBilreflectsthe realityofofcaringforkidrenwith complexdisabilitiestspeciallywhere thereare significabehaviouraland mental health risksinvolved.My9-year-old son has ASD Level ADHD ODD,and anxiety.He receives Positive Behaviour Support psychology five hours support work per week through then NDISThough thesesupports he experiences extremely violent behaviours that affectthesafety ofeveryone our home nd community Carers have been threatened injured or forced to leave house.Mysonhas absconded during meltdowns.The suppor ts we currently receive arenot luxuriesthey minimum neededkeepfamilyfunctioningsafe My1 2yearoldson also asdlevel adhd odd and anxietystuggles everyday activities such dressing washing eating without promptingandsupport He selfharmed experienced suicidality due his disabilities difficulties at school the impact of living in highstresshome environment Occupational therapyandpsychology helped him build coping skills continue participating inschool family life The supports fundedthrough NDIS make it possible for our familysurvive.During fewhours eachweek when a support worker is present I can complete basic household tasks rest briefly ensure my children safely participateinactivities togetherorcommunity Therapistshavehelp us implement strategies improve safety communication emotional regulation Withoutthese suports genuinely believe mychildren are riskofschool refusal institutionalisation involvement with justice system serious harm death Am particularly concerned about proposed changes section A( ) B4 which appear push participants toward alternative supports outsideNDS In reality alternatives either inaccessible financially impossible families like mine We already experienced this shift. NDIS previously refused psychologysupport older son despite his suicidaltyselfharm told use Medicare mental health sessions instead ButMedicare only subsidises limited number session year gap fees unaffordable single parent struggling maintain employment As result son now receives less suppor than clinically needs simply cannot afford more.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1833
Programs that assume children can attend school consistently or participate safely in community settings also do not work for many families dealing with severe behavioural disability. My children often require home-based and highly specialised supports. Generic services are not adequate or accessible for our situation. I am also extremely concerned about the proposed parental presumption provisions in sections 34(1G)-(1J). These changes do not reflect the reality of caring for children with severe disabilities and behavioural risks. I am already “on duty” 24 hours a day.I sleep poorly because Iam constantly alerttothe possibilityof violence(abscondingor crisis)duri ng thenight.Imcanonlyworkaroundhoursperday,and eventhatattendanceis inconsistentdue mychildren’sneeds.This iswithNDISsupportsalreadyinplace.Without thosesupportsm yfamilywillcollapse.If supportsa re reduced,myyounger son will likely stop attendingschoolentirely.My days w illrevolve around managing violentmeltdowns,brokenfurniture ,assaultsbetweensiblingsand serious safetyrisks . Ihaveexperiencedsituationsw herehavebeenwokenat5amby screamingorthreatsinvolvingknives.Willnotbeable toleavemychildren safewithanyonebecausecarerswithoutspecialisttrainingcannotmanagetheserisks.M yoldersonwil lwithdraw further into fear isolation.He alreadyy hidbehindhis lockedbedroomdoortoprotecthimselffrom hisbrother’sviolence. Withoutadequate therapeuticsupp ort,Ibelievehe wil r eturntoself-harmingandsuicidal behaviours.The proposed automated decision-making powers under section also frighten me.Disability especially neurodevelopmental disability with behavioural complexity cannot be reducetokeywordsortick-box es.Familiesare alreadyforced learnhowtodescribetheir children in “ NDIS language”to secure necessary supports.Smallwordingdifferencescan determinewhetherachildreceiveshelporisdeniedit.Exhausted car ersshould not have tob ecomelegal andadministrative experts simplykeeptheirchildrensafe.Anautomatedprocessrisk sremovingevenmorenuance,compassion,and accountability from decisions that havelife-changingconsequences.Ifdecisions arewrong,thebur denof appealfalls ondisabledpeopleandcarerswhoalreadyoverwhelmed.This process has had a significant emotional impactonme.I feel fearful every time I communicatewiththeNDIS becauseIknow howmuchoursafetydependsonthesupports.Writingthis submissionhas requiredmetake timet awayworkcar ing responsibilitieswhileunderimmensestress.
I ask the Committee to reject this Bill entirely.Instead of reducing access tousuppor ts ,thegovernment should work alongside disabled people,families,c arers,a ndclinicians improve then DIS whileprotectingthose who rely ont itmost. The focus shou lbeone reduce duplication administrative burden,waste withinthesystemnot shiftingunsustainable careresponsibilitiesonto familieswhoreadyat breakingpoint.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1833 At a minimum, I urge the Committee to: -Reject provisions that rely on inaccessible “alternative supports” outside the NDIS; -Remove or significantly amend the parental presumption provisions; -Prevent the expansion of automated decision-making for complex disability support decisions; Ensure psychological and behavioural supports remain accessible for children withneurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health risks; Conduct meaningful consultation with carers and disabled people before introducingreforms that will fundamentally affect their safety and wellbeing. The human cost of getting this wrong will be enormous. Families like mine are alreadysurviving on the edge. These supports are not optional extras—they are what keeps us safefunctioning, and alive. Thank you for considering my submission.