National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission
Dear Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I am writing to express my serious concerns about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill. This Bill should be about creating sustainable budgets but it appears as if costs will shift onto other government systems including education, child protection etc., which could lead us into costly systems in future due lack of adequate supports because funding cuts. The NDIS currently manages six plans within our non-biological family system and would cost governments significantly more than what they do now under current arrangements where there’s no social work component involved either.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1909
understanding of intersectional systems or trauma-informed practice relating to displaced children with disabilities. We opened our home and our lives to children no one else wanted, and this is how we have been treated. We have attended planning meetings where we explained that we care for three participants from Child Protection out-of-home care situations and that additional services (supports) is essential to prevent the risk of relinquishment yet planners often had no understanding what were explaining or complex situation. We protect these young people traumatic upbringing associated residential care never once acknowledged. We already face ongoing frustration being approved actual required meet individuals’ conditions imagine worse become full needs not properly recorded within process currently, live revolves around constant reassessments repeatedly require review both adult participants plans every single year multiple times a year funding routinely approved at group support ratios supported assessment report qualified therapist medical practitioner does uphold human rights disability One example involved extensive invasive assessments over period costing approximately $37k reports seemingly read there was meeting phone call could participant’s age correct Ongoing requirement updated assessments reporting creates unnecessary stress trauma families carers also reduces therapy time making extremely inefficient costly use NDIS Yearly should instead remain valid unless significant changes occur alone save billions dollars reducing distress participants Since inception NDIS area as carers position return employment pursue meaningful consistent opportunities because now consumed managing complexity system believe proposed further significantly impact family ability continue caring future possibility supports
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1909
required will no longer be available because the person’s whole-of-life needs are not being properly assessed. We only seek the supports necessary to allow our participants to live happy, safe, and fulfilling lives. However, we fear these lives will be placed at risk if this Bill is passed.The rights of people with disability must remain paramount and should be at the forefront of all decisions. Individuals should continue to have choice and control over their lives.Forcing individuals to live with others due to reduced funding and lower support ratios takes us backwards toward institutionalised models of care — hidden behind closed doors and isolated from the community because there is insufficient funding for the correct level of support.This will only increase disability-related needs over time and ultimately cost more,because families like ours may no longer be able to continue in our caring roles.This is not the future we want for the people we love and care for.I believe this Bill should not be passed in its current form, as it could have a devastating impact on the lives of people with disabilities and undermine the original intent of the NDIS.There is simply not enough detail for the Senate to make a fully informed decision.I am particularly concerned about the following aspects of the Bill:• The shift away from “reasonable and necessary supports.” I fear this change could lead to arbitrary limits on supports rather than focusing on what each individual genuinely requires to live an ordinary life. • The tighter definition of what supports the NDIS will fund. I am concerned this definition is too narrow and may exclude essential supports that people with disabilities rely on to participate in the community and pursue their goals.The prospect of a 50% reduction to social and community participation budgets would have devastating consequences for our participants.Thanks to NDIS support,some individuals have developed enough confidence and capacity to volunteer in thecommunity and even earn a wage.Tes outcomes are only possible because of thesupports funded within social and community participation budgets, including employment-related support.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1909
If this funding is cut, we may be forced to walk away from our caring roles. We are already supporting one individual at risk of homelessness, and instead of being supported ourselves, we feel abandoned by the system. •The increased powers for the NDIA to require people to undergo assessments or provide information, with the threat of plans being suspended or revoked for non-compliance. This fails to recognise the many barriers people with disabilities face when engaging with complex bureaucratic processes, especially during periods of crisis or when they have highly complex needs. Overall, I am deeply worried that this Bill represents a shift away from the original vision of the NDIS —to provide people with disabilities with genuine choice and control over the supports they need to live ordinary lives. Instead, it appears increasingly focused on cost-cutting rather than improving outcomes for people with disabilities. This Bill should be paused to allow for genuine co-design with people with disabilities and their families. I strongly urge the Committee to recommend significant changes to this Bill.At minimum there must be meaningful consultation with people with disabilities and representative organisations to ensure any reforms genuinely meet the needs of the peopletheNDISwasintendedtosupport.TheNDis too importanttowrong.Wemusttakethetimeensurethisisdone properlywithpeoplewithdisabilitiesatcentrefortheprocess.Thankyouforconsideringmysubmission.IwouldbehappytoprovidefurtherinformationtotheCommitteeforquired.Yours sincerely,–redacted”