National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
Disabled Women Are Not Collateral Damage: Why Disability Policy Is Women’s Safety Policy
My name is redacted . I am a social worker, behaviour support practitioner, disability service provider and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant. I am also a disabled woman with lived experience of navigating Australia’s disability support systems. I make this submission in both a personal and professional capacity. It is informed by my lived experience of disability, my work supporting people with disability and families, and my observations of the practical consequences that disability policy decisions can have on safety, independence, family functioning and community participation. I am concerned that discussions about disability reform are too often separated from broader conversations about safeguarding, violence prevention and women’s safety. In my view, disability policy is not merely a question of service delivery or expenditure. It is also a question of safety, autonomy, human rights and protection from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. This submission argues that women with disability already experience disproportionately high rates of violence and abuse, and that reforms affecting access to disability supports should be considered in the context of those existing vulnerabilities. It also highlights the particular challenges faced by disabled women who are mothers, women caring for children with disability,and women experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage.The observations contained in this submission draw on publicly available evidence, including the findings of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse,Neglectand Exploitationof PeoplewithDisability , as wellasmyownprofessionalandalivedexperiencewithinthe disablesector.IhavebeenthinkingagreatdeallatelyaboutthenationalconversationAustraliaiscurrentlyhavingabouteviolenceagainstwomenandinparticular, abouthowincludedinthat conversationandonwhatisnot.Governments, advocacy organisations,servicessystemsandsocietiestherighttalkingabout coercive control,domesticandyfamilyviolence,femicide,housing insecurity,prefentionandothersafety.Theseconversationsareimportantandeneedthemtosavelives.Thereisincreasingrecognitionthateviolencetoagainstwomentisanindividualproblembutone shapedbypoverty,housinginscurity,inequalitysocial isolationandascessto support.WhatIcontinuestrugglehoweveristheapparentdisconnectbetweenthose conversationsandthediscussionscurrenttakingplaceaboutdisabilitypolicy.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
Women with disability are already among the groups most likely to experience violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and coercive control in Australia.
The Disability Royal Commission heard extensive evidence regarding violence experienced by disabled women and girls and described rates of family, domestic and sexual violence as alarming. The Commission noted that 40 per cent of women with disability had experienced physical violence and that women with disability were twice as likely to experience sexual violence as women without disability. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has similarly reported that women with disability are more likely to experience partner violence, emotional abuse, sexual harassment and stalking than women without disability. These statistics demonstrate that disabled women are already starting from a position of greater vulnerability. That is important because when governments make decisions about disability supports, those developments are not being made in isolation; they occur within an environment where individuals face disproportionately high levels of violence, abuse, neglect, coercion, and exploitation due primarily but not exclusively on their disabilities themselves. Given this reality, I find it difficult to understand why disability policy and women’s safety issues often appear disconnected or treated separately rather than integrally linked together for comprehensive consideration; it seems like there exists some kind of disconnect between these two fields which should be addressed urgently. Australia cannot claim serious intent towards ending violence against its female citizens while simultaneously treating the issue surrounding people living under conditions requiring assistance as though it holds no relevance whatsoever toward safeguarding them, as if both worlds exist independently one another. As our government pursues significant reforms regarding NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), much public discourse focuses mainly around sustainability concerns such as funding adequacy, expenditure efficiency, fraud prevention measures etc., over-servicing problems, scheme integrity maintenance. Accountability matters deeply. Sustainability also does matter greatly along with maintaining public confidence level into said system. However what worries me most at present time frame is how little attention appears given outwards concerning consequences arising whenever support services become reduced, delayed or even harder to access by those who rely upon them heavily. because once a person requires certain type(s)of help regardless whether funding approval has been granted or not A person needing psychosocial supports in order maintain stability still retains same needs irrespective availability thereof.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
A woman trying to leave a violent relationship does not become safer simply because disability supports have become more difficult to access.
The need does not disappear when support disappears. The question is whether the consequences are borne by individuals, families and communities instead. In my professional work, have seen what happens people receive right at time maintain housing avoid hospitalisation remain connected their build lives. I also see happen delay dispute withdraw I see deteriorate while waiting reviews appeals overwhelmed responsibilities increasingly isolated vulnerable women remained unsafe circumstances did necessary live independently That why concerned discussion primarily budget measure rather broader systems keep safe. For many disabled supports services allow independence reduce isolation facilitate healthcare employment community participation cases make possible leave violence. When unstable risks do not disappear dependence increases increase poverty carer stress increases some vulnerability coercive control abuse increases One of things governments often speak about leaving as though simple choice reality requires housing income transport legal assistance childcare disability support enormous amount practical help For disabled caring child with before even taken account When reduced barrier disappear Question harder overcome conversation becomes complicated children involved.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
One of the things policymakers seem to underestimate is: How many disabled mothers care for children. When support systems fail: The consequences rarely affect just a person alone. Throughout my work, women have experienced domestic family violence while caring for their kids who may struggle in communication due to intellectual disability or autism conditions making it hard clear what they’re experiencing disclose abuse report harm. A mother managing her own condition plus taking care child navigating multiple service recovering after violence often can’t simply access Family Court obtain protections needed. as result some women face impossible situation where serious concerns about safety wellbeing but lacking resources supports legal assistance necessary challenge ongoing contact arrangements. For those struggling communicating reporting harm relying on adults interpreting experiences risks even greater when exposed unsafe people environments. is this conversation starts fall apart. disability policy discussed over here family violence elsewhere child safety somewhere entirely families do not experience these issues separately. Women living through these situations dealing with all at same time also find reforms interact housing crisis Australia’s broader efforts reduce violence against women barriers preventing leaving violent relationships financial dependence lack safe affordable housing.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
We also know that women with disability are more likely to experience poverty, lower workforce participation and financial insecurity than women without disability. So what happens when a woman with disability loses support that allows her to work, participate in the community or maintain her independence? What happens when supports for her child are reduced and she is required to take on even more unpaid caring responsibilities herself? And what happens when that woman is experiencing domestic and family violence but has no realistic pathway to financial independence, no affordable housing options and no practical means of leaving? These are not hypothetical questions. For many families, disability supports are part of what makes employment possible. They are part of what allows parents to maintain income, remain connected to their communities and avoid becoming completely dependent on others. When those supports are reduced, the consequences extend far beyond the individual participant. They can affect the financial stability of entire households and increase dependence on partners, family members and informal carers. At a time when governments are rightly acknowledging the role that financial abuse, economic dependence and housing insecurity play in domestic and family violence, I believe it is reasonable to ask whether sufficient consideration has been given to how disability reforms may interact with those same risk factors. it is important to acknowledge that disabled women are not homogenous group and some women face multiple layers disadvantage at sametime for First Nations women from culturally linguistically diverse communitie living rural regional Australia and women experiencin poverty barriers safety can be greater Many already challenges accessing healthcare disabiltiy services legal assistance family violence support advocacy service safe housing In reginal remote community services limited or unavailable altogether Women required travel significant distances access support often considerable personal cost.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
For some women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, language barriers, visa concerns, social isolation or fear of engaging with government systems can create additional obstacles when seeking help. First Nations women continue to experience disproportionately high rates of family violence and are often navigating the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma, racism, poverty and systemic disadvantage alongside disability. When disability intersects with these realities, vulnerability can increase further and pathways to safety can become even more complex. What makes this even more difficult to understand is that none of these issues are new. The Disability Royal Commission spent more than four years hearing evidence from thousands of disabled Australians, families, advocates, experts and service providers. It received almost 8,000 submissions and ultimately delivered 222 recommendations aimed at addressing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by people with disability. The Commission documented widespread safeguarding failures across multiple systems and heard repeated evidence about the heightened vulnerability experienced by disabled women, children and people who are dependent on others for care, housing, support or access to services. Yet years later, many disabled people, advocates and frontline workers continue to raise deliver its final report, I think many would be forgiven for asking a similar question. Not because the evidence was unimportant, the stories were not worth hearing, or the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation documented by the Commission were not real. Rather, it is because many people are still waiting to see meaningful change and are struggling to see how the lessons of the Commission are being reflected in current policy decisions. That raises some important questions.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
How many of the current NDIS reforms directly reflect the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission?
How many were developed with those recommendations in mind? And how many risk moving in the opposite direction? If a Royal Commission identifies isolation, dependence, lack of advocacy, barriers to justice and inadequate safeguarding as factors that increase vulnerability to abuse, surely reforms that can be expected. Australia now spends years listening survivors describe what happens when systems fail.The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses Child Sexual Abuse heard evidence about children not believed unable disclose abuse remained trapped environments adults held significant power over them The Disability Royal Commission similarly heard extensive evidence disabled people experiencing violence neglect exploitation while depending others care support housing accessing services Although circumstances different same themes emerged:dependenceisolationunequalpowerrelationshipsbarriersadvocacydifficultiesaccessjustice One clearest lessons emerging from inquiries is cannot separatedfromsupport Independence oversight advocacy access often help prevent abuse occurring escalating first place why believe Australians entitled ask difficult questions What assessment been undertaken regarding impact on women disability domestic family violence How are these reforms being considered alongside Australia’s broader commitments reducing violence against women Safeguards introduced increasing dependent partners carers or members if supports become harder accessible How many Disability Royal Commissions’ recommendations actively implemented through these reforms And how many undermined?
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill
Submission 1871 - Supplementary Submission
These questions are not being asked because disabled people oppose accountability. They are being asked because disabled people understand what happens when support systems can’t work properly due to failures or lack thereof; this is something I’ve experienced firsthand, as both someone who has disabilities myself AND works within that sector where we strive for effective reform solutions. I’m struggling though on how can there even exist a national conversation about ending violence towards women while simultaneously treating our policies around disability as if they have little relevance regarding safety concerns related specifically toward those affected directly by these issues? The consequences here will likely hit hardest among groups already facing significant barriers: disabled individuals themselves (women included), children living under similar conditions; families carrying heavy caregiving responsibilities; impoverished folks residing anywhere across Australia’s regions including remote areas like First Nations communities & culturally diverse backgrounds too—these populations face fewer options than others should such failings occur again. That’s why these questions matter so much! If reducing violence against all women truly matters, then it cannot be treated separately from addressing policy gaps in supporting and protecting vulnerable persons with special needs—including the most marginalized ones mentioned above. Social Worker/Behaviour Support Practitioner/Provider/NDIS Participant References: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 - Disability And Violence In Focus Crime Justice Stats ABS Canberra AIHW People With Disabilities In AU Violece Against Them AIWH Canberra Royal Commission Into Violence Abuse Neglect Exploitation Of Persons W Disabilty Examining Rates Family Domestic Sexual Violence Women Girls Living With Such Conditions
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill
Submission 1871: Supplementary Submission
- Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability Final report.
Royal Commission published a final report containing (\text{recommendations})$ (number unknown).
The [Institutional Response] Royal Commission’s final report from $[year]$ is available here:
Australian Government Department of Health & AgeCare has released an update on implementing recommendation[s].