National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2015
To Whom It May Concern,
I am a full time business owner thanks to the ndis I contribute to society.
You see I’m also a carer. A carer firstly to 2 out of 4 of my children who are now adults. 2ndly to my freshly married Husband and his 2 children (now adult/ school leaver) than all have disabilities.
Many years ago when my children were little and I was a single mum I begged and pleaded for help as I had been diagnosed with severe stress and severe depression, I didn’t even want to live because dealing with an abusive ex husband and children with a disability with no family around was too much of a burden.
Once I received supports finally from DSQ through lifeline block funding My severe stress and depression my psychologist confirmed had become mild. I started studying and then have worked part time ever since.
As my family became more independent with supports in place I was able to work full time and eventually stepped out into business myself and purchased a house on my own.
Then my daughter left school. Her plan was smaller than when she went to school yet with her intellectual disability it wasn’t safe for her. I had to give up my business, my house, everything I built with years of extreme hardships gone. I couldn’t let this happen so I went to the ART and was granted enough hours that I could still run my business.
I care for them outside of my business without a break. Yeah I’m exhausted, yeah I have my own health concerns but I’m managing. Nobody knows how I can do it and I honestly couldn’t without ndis supports. I’m terrified of going back to the thought of losing everything to become a full time carer just to keep my family safe.
My son is able to work a part time job thanks to his ndis supports.
My husband works a full time job thanks to ndis supports.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2015
My step daughter has her own micro business thanks to her ndis supports.
We CAN NOT do these things without community access supports.
I as their carer CAN NOT provide transport to 5 different people going to 5 different places. While running my own business. And we can’t keep our house without my business.
Carer burnout is real and while it’s already challenging with supports I don’t even want to think what it will be like without because I’ve been there but now have so much more to lose.
When my family were receiving block funding we could only use an agency. With the agency they constantly had workers absent and wouldn’t call me, so no one would pick up my child from school and I would get a call at work.
I had agency employees steal from me.
I also worked for an agency and to find employees that you can trust is extremely rare.
Having independent support workers gives me direct contact with them, control over which supports work, I have means to check all their qualifications and experience and negotiate a lower rate to save money on the plan.
Cutting community access and making independent support workers registered I do not agree with as it is going to be very damaging not only to my family but the whole community.
Regards