National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2026

Submission:1943

Re: National Disability Insurance Scheme (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations)

Amendment Bill 2026

• I am an NDIS Nominee for my brother aged 62, who participates under the scheme.
  • He prepares appointments/reports as needed, negotiates/service agreements reviewed, tracks spending/approves invoices, serves as contact with service providers on behalf of him.

Up until age 54, he had never received disability services; began receiving DSP late twenties.* When entering into this program our understanding updated regarding intellectual disabilities: His IQ/functional capacity well tested over last two-six years confirmed by a Psychologist & Occupational Therapists twice in six years; his condition is permanent* The evidence exists within NDIs system, no need re-establishing permanence through ‘all appropriate treatment’ or considering eligibility for other systems when determining access*. If these services existed rural/regional Australia and were suitable we would have tried them! For example,in**the year $2023$, attempted employment support via DES. It failed! Would expand if terms reference here. The failure evident from abysmal employment rates among people living with disability since model’s inception twenty-five years ago!. I also challenge directly relating his needs to eligible impairments alone: individual circumstances must be considered too (e.g., father died 2022). Without NDIS funded support, he cannot live independently due informal/free support provided by family/friends insufficiently covering local community connection/contribution requirements.“One size does not fit all” Legislation proposes reviewing framework assessing reasonable/necessary supports updating principles applying participants/plans.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill

Submission: Submission_1943

What does this mean? Isn’t it reasonable and necessary that my brother continue to be supported to remain living independently and participate in his local community with support from NDIS? He has similar goals and expectations of his life as those siblings. Isn’t that reasonable? The Minister determined they will reduce funding level activities recently announced cut 50% all participant’s social community civic participation supports. This arbitrary cash grab without due consideration consequences, persons disabilities have fewer opportunities meet friends keep appointments fill prescriptions go movie lunch date who track harm self esteem mental ill health increased isolation loneliness experience My brother already visits Emergency department small hospital home town often safe place worried lonely feelings can’t understand thinks staff help more unstructured time likely turn Local Health Services Support This hardly cost saving rather shifting legislation also proposes limit unscheduled plan reassessment circumstances change most times unscheduled fear for what participants my experience requesting a plan assessment within current legislation legal change circumstance (death primary carer) resulted month wait year evidence submitted supporting changed situation misplaced Agency when found none thoroughly pointed relevant parts conversation understanding Agency representative based capital city doesn’t nuances regional rural Australia implications needs The Agency seems extremely poor undertaking critical assessments which leads good outcomes point staffing inadequate deal required Scheme promised!

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

Submission 1943

I do not have any issue with the NDIS expanding power to identify, investigate and respond to fraud. I do however take issue with this being the main narrative of this Government making out that participants are the villains! The community has been quick to repeat this narrative and the threats to and future insecurity of people with disability and the NDIS is real. The NDIS has lost the broad community support it had when first legislated as the most significant piece of social policy reform since Medicare. People with disabilities are once again being vilified and used as a scapegoat for failing Federal budgets.

Successive Governments’ failure to invest in and ensure an adequate quality and safeguard taskforce is unforgivable! The rushed planning and bureaucratic inefficiencies have caused many of the problems this legislation is attempting to fix.

The NDIS changed my brother’s life for the better.It has given him confidence and the ability to live independently and join in activities in his community.The NDIS has ensured he has a regular life.He is supported to be a volunteer and has been able to develop and maintain friendships and relationships in his wider community. He is an employer in his local community of specialist services and service providers. He is supported to lead an independent and meaningful life, one which we had never envisaged before the NDIS. Although I do not understand all of the proposed changes in this current legislation,I see enough to make me very concerned for my brother’s future. More consultation and time to understand the effects of the proposed changes.More time for the Government to consider alternative ways to balance the budget!