National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1923
Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill
I prefer to remain anonymous for this submission. I am a disabled participant. I acquired a disability 10 years ago after paying taxes for 26 years. NDIS funding has increased my functional capacity and I have been able to not only add to the economy through GST and hiring support workers (who pay tax), but also through doing a little work here and there when my functional abilities (which fluctuate) allow for this.
Without NDIS I would be more dependent on mobility aids and would have spent a lot more of my funding on support workers over the years. I pride myself in being independent, however at times, I rely on the NDIS to help me gain more function. My goals are to be independent, to continue raising my children as a single mother, and to contribute to society in some meaningful way.
My overall view of this Bill is that I do not support it. These are my concerns:
- Increased administrative and compliance requirements
As a disabled person, I am concerned that the Bill proposes changes that may increase administrative processes for participants. My disability increases my level of fatigue and this makes administrative tasks difficult, as I am also a single mother of four. Tasks take longer and are harder to complete compared to my ability prior to my disability. Tasks also increase my level of pain and need for medication, which again affects my abilities.
- “Not contactable” and participant engagement rules
I am concerned that the Bill could mean a participant’s supports may be paused, reviewed, or affected if they do not respond within required timeframes. Again, my disability increases my level of fatigue and this makes administrative tasks difficult, as I am also a single mother of four. Tasks take longer and are harder to complete compared to my ability prior to my disability. Tasks also increase my level of pain and need for medication, which again affects my abilities.
- Changes to reassessments and plan reviews
I am concerned that the Bill proposes changes to how and when participant plans can be reviewed or reassessed.
My disability means that I can be worse on some days and have increased function on other days. An assessment will not be able to gain the full picture of how drastically my life has been affected since my disability was acquired. There needs to be an easier way to provide feedback and for my concerns to be heard and acted upon. My plan may require changes due to progression of my disability and this needs to be an easy process.
- Changes to how funding for supports can be adjusted
I am concerned that the Bill will mean that funding levels for certain groups of supports may be adjusted at a system level. This is not putting my functional requirements at the centre of the support provision.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 1923
- Increased use of administrative or automated systems
I am concerned that the Bill may increase reliance on standardised or system-driven decision-making processes. Humans need to be carefully helping to make decisions in this process, as no computer system will be able to understand the nuances of every disability and every person’s functional ability in all sectors of their life.
My disability means that I can be worse on some days and have increased function on other days. A computerised assessment will not be able to gain the full picture of how drastically my life has been affected since my disability was acquired.
I want the commission to understand how individualised our plans need to be. I am one of those people who’s functional ability fluctuates and worsens with increased workload, leaving me unable to gain ongoing employment and relying on NDIS to keep my functional ability at a level that I can survive in life.
The commission also needs to understand that people need to be involved at every step of the process. Including participant feedback and input since they know their disability better than anyone. We are not all the same.
In its current form, I do not support the Bill. I ask the committee to consider my lived experience when reviewing this Bill.
Kind regards
Anonymous Submission from a disabled person