National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1889
Keeping Early Support Accessible for Children and Families
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
My name is Mark Maddison and I am the Director and Occupational Therapist at Goalistic Therapy, a small paediatric occupational therapy provider on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
I support children with developmental delay, autism, emotional regulation difficulties, sensory processing differences, motor challenges and participation difficulties. I work directly with children and families in their homes, schools, preschools and community environments.
I support the need for the NDIS to remain sustainable. Like many providers, I want to see funding directed towards participants who genuinely need support and I support efforts to reduce fraud and misuse of Scheme funds.
My concern is that some of the proposed changes may create unintended consequences for children and families who are already struggling to access the support they need.
Many of the children I work with do not fit neatly into a system built around stable and predictable support needs.
A child may appear to be coping in Kindergarten and then begin to struggle significantly in Year 1 when academic, social and behavioural expectations increase. Another child may be managing at school because of extensive adjustments from teachers, parents and therapists behind the scenes. From the outside they may appear to be functioning well, but that success is often the result of considerable support.
One of my concerns is the proposed approach to functional capacity. In paediatric practice, a child’s ability to participate is heavily influenced by their environment. The support provided by parents, teachers, therapists and support workers is often what allows participation to occur. Looking at a child’s capacity without considering these supports risks creating an incomplete picture of their actual needs.
I am also concerned about restrictions on reassessments.
Many families already describe the reassessment process as difficult and stressful. Children’s needs change quickly. School transitions, changes in family circumstances, emerging behavioural concerns and increasing educational demands can all create new support needs. If families are required to meet increasingly high thresholds before a reassessment can occur, there is a risk that support will only become available after problems have become significant.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1889
In my experience, the best outcomes occur when support is provided early. Waiting until difficulties become severe rarely reduces costs. More often it results in greater challenges at home, increased pressure on schools and higher support needs in the future.
The proposed emphasis on parental responsibility also concerns me.
Most parents I work with are doing an extraordinary job. Many are providing levels of supervision, emotional support, advocacy and behavioural support that go far beyond what would typically be expected for a child of the same age. While families play a critical role in supporting their children, there is a limit to what can reasonably be expected.
When formal supports are reduced, the responsibility does not disappear. It is often transferred to parents, siblings, teachers and school staff. This can contribute to caregiver burnout, family stress and difficulties maintaining employment.
As a regional provider, I am also concerned about assumptions regarding access to treatment and alternative supports.
Many families already face lengthy waitlists for allied health, paediatric and mental health services. In some cases, a support may technically exist within another system but be practically unavailable due to workforce shortages, cost or location. The existence of a service is not the same as meaningful access to that service.
I am also concerned about the impact these reforms may have on smaller providers.
Small community based practices often provide flexible services in homes, schools and local communities. Increasing administrative requirements, uncertainty around funding and delays in decision making can place significant pressure on small businesses. If providers reduce services or close, families may face even longer waitlists and fewer options for support.
I do not believe sustainability and early intervention are competing goals.
Many of the children I support make meaningful progress because they receive support early. They develop greater independence, participate more successfully at school, require fewer intensive supports later and are better positioned to participate in employment and community life as they grow older.
My concern is that if access to support becomes more difficult, we may save money in the short term while creating greater costs for families, schools, communities and the Scheme in the future.
Recommendations
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Ensure reassessment pathways remain accessible for children whose needs change during key developmental and educational transitions.
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Retain consideration of environmental factors and real-world participation when assessing functional capacity.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 1889
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Recognise the practical limits of informal supports and avoid transferring increasing levels of care onto families and schools.
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Consider actual service availability, workforce shortages and regional access challenges when assessing treatment and alternative support pathways.
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Continue investing in early intervention approaches that improve long-term participation, independence and community outcomes.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on this Bill and its potential impact on children, families and service providers.