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

Submission 1866

The NDIS means that I can afford to provide for my family without the signifiant financial impact that covering therapies would have on my family. I can afford to be a mum instead of a carer. I can afford to work, in a much needed role in healthcare.It means that as a disabled person myself, I can have the help I need to fulfill all my roles and responsibilities with much less stress and impact on my wellbeing. Family relationships are not purely transactional about who can help where and when. It means I am connected and supported by people who understand my and my families challenges and needs and work collaboratively with us to navigate those challenges.

The proposed changes terrify me. THe language is negative, it blames people with disabilities for having disabilities, it says ‘Be grateful for the help you get and shut up’. We’re human beings too. Equity is about having the same opportunities to live as someone without a disability. These changes are not about equity. Or the rights of disabled people and their carers. You’re expecting us to do more with less and as a woman, as a mother, as a healthcare worker, I am sick of it. If I lose these supports, there is nothing available to support what I need at a price I can afford.

The systems in place at a state level, community programs, hospitals, GPs, social programs, schools, skill building etc etc etc, are not there. And as someone who earns an income, I am very rarely elliglble for these programs and supports. I don’t qualify for a carers payment or any finacial support from centrelink, nor do I qualify for a healthcare ceoncession card.

Carer’s gateway has month long waiting lists for practicel supports that would make a difference but they are so short term as to be negliglble. THere is nothing currently that exists to support me or my family members at a community level.

I am tired of the goverment rolling out poorly thought changes that do not reflect the lived experience of the people it will impact. The impact on the public system will be massive. Our EDs are already under pressure, and have been for years. GPs? Weeks long wait to a doctor who knows you and is familiar with your history. THe cost of living is rising and you want carers to do what? Reduced our work hours even more? Leave our paid employment entirely because we get penalised for needing to leave work to pick up sick or distressed children or family members? Or for taking a day off to attend yet another appointment advocating for ours and our families needs. Or needing to find the time to spend more time navigating convoluted systems and supports get the bare minimum. How dare you think you can put more back on us? How dare you treat us like an after thought. There has been no meanfingul movement or commuication on what supports will be available for people who will be removed from the NDIS. It brings to mind a phrase ‘Piss poor planning equals poor performance’. It doesn’t take much to understand that this will put a strain on already strained services, where they even exist. You have not explained clearly enough how supports will be provided, by whom and how. WHat are the timeframes? HOw to people access these supports? WHat will the cost be? WHat if people cannot afford the supports privately? An initial psychiatrist appointment can costs anywhere from $700- $900 where I am. How do you think anyone is going to be able to engage with meaningful treatment when the initial costs of care are so high? If people add on the regular costs of therapy, supports and intervention with these kinds of costs, no one is going to eligible under your proposed changes. Is that your plan? Disable us more and more until we all die out? Until we and those who we care for or care for us are so beaten down that we give up?

We entered the NDIS because the level of supports required to make a meaningful impact were not available at a community level and were significantly unaffordable.

The level of investment that would be needed now to ensure there are adequate community- based supports alone to fill the gap is ridiculous.This should have been a co-occuring policy when the NDIS was introduced. THe creation of policy that was aimed at creating a more

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

Submission 1866

robust and resposive community based sector that was affortable and flexible enough to meet some of our needs. You have hospitals being built that are still not disability inclusive to allow patients and staff to receive and give care in line with necessary accomodations. The public waiting lists for anything through community health is 3 to 6 to 18 months long. The staff required to run these services are not there. The expertise to run these services are not there. I’m worried for my own family but also others. These people have a chance on the NDIS - and you have an opportunity to make it even better and stronger - but that needs to happen within the NDIA and its own processes and procedures, as previous reports have shown. Not by demonising and penalising people, children! - who need the help. In a recent ART hearing, my family had to listen to the ‘expert’ independent OT, stated that my family member community support funding was not value for money and that he should instead remain in his home, and be driven around in a car for a few hours each day. Because the level of anxiety and agitation my family member can show in the community requires significant supports that need to be tailored to his individual needs. Something which is possible and is being implemented now with small incremental steps that keep pace with my family members capacity. But sure, his community participation is more value for money if he doesn’t leave the house except to be driven around in car. How’s that for community participation?

The reality is that anyone can become disabled in a moment - I have seen it as a nurse, and I know it as a human being. We are better when we support everyone in our community, not just those deemed worthy. Please don’t make these changes. They will cause harm, harm that is amplified by YOUR rhetoric and lack of understanding of what it is to be disabled and live as a disabled person in Australia. Harm that will impact not just individuals but families who are already dealing with levels of stress, complexity and exhaustion that you clearly do not understand. These changes will inundate already stretched services and providers and staff that are at breaking point as it is.