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

Submission 1927

I am writing as a friend of a family whose teenage child lives with a significant motor and communication disability that affects her mobility, communication, independence and every aspect of daily life.

Up until recently, the NDIS provided this family with some stability and quality of life. While I still see the immense strain involved in caring for a child with complex support needs, I have also seen the positive impact that funded supports can have. I see this family participating in the community, accessing therapy, and planning for a sustainable life after school for their child.

The current proposed changes have already caused enormous stress. My friend is anxious, exhausted and overwhelmed. She has had to take personal leave from work simply to manage an NDIS review process. She is deeply worried about the future of her child, and I am worried about the future of their entire family.

These changes would have devastating consequences. A reduction in funded supports would likely mean reduced access to the 1:1 and 2:1 care that is currently essential, particularly when training and upskilling new support workers. Due to the nature of disability support work, staff turnover is frequent, and new workers constantly need guidance to safely support this young person.

Without appropriate support, how is my friend expected to get to work on time while also toileting, dressing, feeding and transporting her teenage child to school each morning? Not to mention what happens when she finishes school?

The proposed reduction or removal of social and community supports would also have a devastating impact on this young person’s quality of life. She currently attends youth groups, birthday parties and social events with peers her own age. These experiences are incredibly important for her wellbeing, identity and inclusion in the community.

Like any teenager, she deserves opportunities to spend time with friends independently, without her parents always needing to be present. At the same time, her mother also deserves opportunities to maintain friendships, relationships and her own wellbeing. Without funded supports, families like this are pushed further into exhaustion and isolation.

I am also extremely concerned about the proposed changes relating to how the NDIA defines “permanence” in disability. Under these changes, participants may be expected to try all available treatments before being considered eligible for support, even when those treatments are unaffordable or unavailable in regional Queensland.

How are families already under financial and emotional pressure expected to pay for expensive treatments simply to prove eligibility? And how can a treatment be considered “available” when families in regional areas cannot realistically access it?

These proposed changes do not reflect the realities faced by people with disability and their families. They create fear, instability and uncertainty for people who already navigate enormous daily challenges.

I urge the Senate Committee to carefully consider the real human impact these changes will have on individuals with disability, their carers and families, particularly those living in regional communities.