NDIA Accountability Project

Mother expresses concerns about Social and Community funding reductions

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

Submission 1860

Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee

Inquiry into the NDIS (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill

Submitted by:

Dear Committee-I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill.

I am the mother of a 24 year old woman who has been lucky to have an NDIS Plan for the past 7 years. This plan has been life changing for my daughter and has always been carefully constructed by the NDIS Planners, always with a view to minimising her funding. The community activities she has participated in have been quoted by her providers, approved by her planners and the appropriate funding made available within her Social and Community funding ‘bucket’.

My daughter has no friends and would not be capable of independently leaving the house without her Social and Community Funding. Over the years my daughter has used this funding to:

  • have support at her place of employment
  • participate in art classes
  • navigate her way around shopping centres
  • learn how to cross roads safely
  • learn bus routes
  • have a support worker take her to her therapy appointments when they cannot be reached by public transport
  • acquire employment skills through structured programs from NDIS registered providers
  • attend sporting fixtures with her support provider
  • learn cooking skills
  • practice her independence by going on overnight trips with her support provider and other participants.

This meaningful community participation has allowed my daughter to feel she has a full, interesting and varied life, just like any other 24 year old. She feels connected and meaningfully engaged in society.

These supports have helped reduce my daughter’s:

  • social isolation
  • mental health deterioration
  • emotional dysregulation
  • disengagement from learning opportunities
  • long term reliance on more expensive day programs.

The activities my daughter pursues are not luxuries. Any arbitrary reduction in her Social and Community funding will result in a loss of:

  • social connection
  • income
  • ability to attend NDIS funded therapy appointments
  • safety
  • resilience
  • confidence
  • mental well being
  • identity
  • independence and autonomy.

My daughter deserves more than just survival, she deserves access to the community, and the opportunity to pursue her interests, employment, relationships and have purpose to her life.

I respectfully ask the Committee to reconsider Section 34A of the proposed bill that allow the Minister to arbitrarily reduce funding for Social and Community funding by 50%.

Yours sincerely