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

Submission 1953

I am a parent of a 9-year-old autistic child and am writing to express concerns regarding the proposed changes to the NDIS Act, particularly changes relating to eligibility, the definition of permanence, and access to capacity-building supports for autistic children. My son has significant functional impairments that impact all areas of daily life. Although he is academically capable and does not qualify for a specialist school setting, he requires constant supervision and substantial support with daily functioning, emotional regulation, community access, and self-care. He has not attended school since October 2025 due to severe mental health deterioration associated with prolonged difficulties accessing appropriate educational support and accommodations. He is currently under the care of specialist medical professionals due to suicidal ideation at 9 years old. The NDIS has been critical in helping our family maintain safety and stability. oneof my primary concerns relates tothe proposedchanges surroundingthedefinitionofofpermanencetandexpectationthatparticipantspursueallavailabletreatmentsbeforeeligibilityisconfirmed.Inpractice,manytreatmentsonotgenuinelyaccessibletoordinary familiesInregionalareassuchasGeelongwaitlistsforspecialist servicesareextremelylong.Manytherapiesalsofinanciallyunaffordableparticularlyforfamilyalreadyrelyingonasingleincomeduetocaringresponsibilities.Iamconcernedthesechangecouldcreate unrealisticbarriersautisticchildrenamiliesattemptingaccesssupport.Autismislifelong.Whilesupportsandtherapyscanimprovefunctioningqualitylifes dotheyremovedisability.Familysshouldnotbeplacedpositionswhere theyrequiredexhausteverypossibletreatmentoptioncostor accessibility beforebeingconsiderelleigible forsuppor I am also concerned about any reductioninaccesstocapacitybuilding supports autistic children.Forour familysuppostrs notoptional extras.Supportworkersandaliedhealth suppertshelpkeepchildsafecommunityhome environment aswell.Theyassisthim access community safely build independence manage emotional regulation participate daily life reduce risks associated disability.Quite literally these supportsthelpeek childalive Withoutthesupport:

• I have been unable to work due caring responsibilities and would likely remainunable returnwork;

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

Submission 1953

• our child’s social isolation and mental health difficulties would likely worsen;
• the burden of care would shift further onto unpaid family carers, increase reliance on Centrelink supports and payments, and result in more parents being unable to remain in or return to the workforce due to the level of unpaid disability care required at home.
• and pressure would increase on schools, emergency departments, and mental health systems that are already struggling to cope, particularly here in Victoria. School refusal and attendance difficulties are already increasing significantly amongst vulnerable children, especially neurodivergent students who are not receiving adequate support early enough. I am concerned that public discussion surrounding these reforms has increasingly focused on cost reduction and fraud prevention without adequately recognising the legitimate and substantial support needs of disabled children and their families. Fraud within the NDIS should absolutely be addressed. However, reforms aimed at reducing misuse should not unintentionally create additional barriers for people including children with genuine lifelong disabilities who rely on these supports for safety, participation, and daily functioning. Australia already manages large multi-billion-dollar systems such as Medicare through regulation, auditing, compliance processes, and oversight mechanisms designed to identify inappropriate claims and misuse. I believe the NDIS should similarly focus on strengthening safeguards, provider accountability, and compliance measures, rather than reducing access for vulnerable participants who genuinely rely on these supports to survive and function safely.

I urge the committee to carefully consider the likely impact these proposed changes may have on autistic children and their families, particularly those with significant functional impairments who may not fit narrow stereotypes of disability. Thank you for considering my submission.