National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1865
To the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee,
I am a paediatric Occupational Therapist working at in Cairns, Queensland. I work with children and families with a wide range of developmental and functional needs.
My concerns relate to the proposed changes to functional capacity assessments, reassessment restrictions, and reductions to community participation and capacity building supports under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. While occupational therapists use standardised assessments, a large part of our professional expertise comes from clinical reasoning and observational skills developed over years of practice. Functional capacity cannot be accurately assessed through a blanket system or algorithm alone, particularly for children whose performance changes depending on their environment, supports, routines and daily demands.
Many participants may appear capable during short assessments but struggle significantly in everyday life without support. This is why assessments should continue to be completed by appropriately qualified allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, who understand the broader context of a participant’s functioning. I am also concerned about restrictions on reassessments. In paediatric practice, children’s needs can change rapidly as developmental, educational and social demands increase. Fixed reassessment periods may prevent participants from accessing supports when they are most needed.
Additionally, community participation and capacity building supports are essential for long-term independence. Occupational therapy is not only about whether a participant can do a task, but whether they can consistently participate in daily life and the community. There is an important difference between can do and does do. Early exposure to community participation helps children build confidence, independence and practical life skills that support future education and employment opportunities. If participants are not supported to engage in community activities, routines and meaningful occupations during childhood, there is a significant risk that skill generalisation and participation will not occur. As these children transition into adolescence and adulthood, reduced confidence, social isolation and limited workforce readiness may develop, ultimately increasing long-term reliance on disability and social support systems. Early intervention and community participation should therefore be viewed as long-term investment strategies that promote independence, inclusion and future economic contribution.
I respectfully ask Parliament to ensure that occupational therapy, capacity building supports and community participation supports are not reduced under the proposed reforms. Functional assessments should remain individualised, clinically informed and conducted by appropriately qualified allied health professionals rather than relying
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1865