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

Submission 2052

Submission to Senate Inquiry – Proposed Changes to the NDIS Act

I am writing to express deep concern regarding proposed changes to the NDIS legislation, particularly canvases that may weaken access to early intervention, reduce participant choice and control, and move disability support away from individualized person-centred practice. as someone working closely alongside autistic children young people families I see every day the profound benefit timely targeted evidence-informed support delivered early tailored child Early intervention is not simply a service model It preventative investment life trajectories Autistic children benefits most when support: Individualised strengths needs goals Flexible responsive time Delivered clinicians educators workers chosen family Embedded within natural environments such home school community Focused on capacity building rather than crisis response When receive appropriate outcomes improve across multiple domains including Emotional regulation Communication skills Social participation Educational engagement Community inclusion Independence daily living Family wellbeing sustainability Early does remove barrier builds skill strengthens protective factors prevents escalation into system costs Importantly also reduces long-term Children who receive supports are less likely require intensive later disengage education develop secondary mental health concerns more participate meaningfully communities concerned by proposed changes narrow eligibility criteria delay until impairments significant Waiting deterioration before contradicts evidence-based For effective when challenges become entrenched Delaying creates preventable distress for children increases long-term government systems including health Education Disability Mental Health deeply about proposals reducing participant Families know their Parents carers understand what approaches effective which professionals build trust how need adapted meet unique profile NDIS been transformative because it recognized cannot be “one size fits all” Removing flexibility standardised models that do reflect diversity of experiences Autistic different Two with same diagnosis may require completely Different Supports System driven primarily automated processes prescriptive risks overlooking complexity context individual need

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

Submission 2052

Participant choice and control must remain central. Families should retain the right to determine:

• Who supports their child
• What evidence-based interventions are most appropriate
• How supports are delivered
• How goals are prioritised
• How funding is used to build genuine functional capacity Strong families build strong outcomes. Capacity building should not focus only on the individual participant. Supporting parents, carers, siblings, and broader support networks strengthens long-term sustainability and improves outcomes for autistic children and young people. The NDIS was established as a rights-based system designed to promote inclusion, participation, and dividual agency. Any legislative reform must protect these principles. I respectfully urge the Senate Inquiry to ensure that reforms:
  • Protect access to early intervention for autistic children and young people.
  • Preserve participant choice and control.
  • Maintain individualized planning and flexible support delivery.
  • Recognise family capacity building as an essential component of disability support.
  • Ensure evidence-based early supports remain accessible before crisis or deterioration occurs.
  • Protect person-centred approaches and avoid over-standardisation or automated decision-making that reduces individual consideration. Early intervention works. Choice and control work. Individualised supports work. Protecting these principles protects children, families, and the long-term sustainability of the disabilitysystem itself.The proposed changes also create concern regarding the sustainabilityof small,**specialiseddisabilityservice providers who deliver highlyindividualisedsupports within local communities.I operatea small allied healthand disabilitysupport business which currently employs seven staffmembers andrecontributestothe Australian economy through wages,superannuation,taxation,andlocal employment opportunities.More importantlyour organisation provides specialised neuroaffirmingsupportsautisticchildren,youngpeople,familieswho rely upon continuitytrustindividuallytherapeuticrelationships.Policy settingsthat reduceparticipantchoicecontrol,narrowaccessearlyinterventionormovetowardincreasinglystandardisedsupportallocationmodels riskdestabilisingsmallcommunitybasedproviderswhodeliverhighlytailoredcare.If small specialist organisations become financially unsustainablefamilies may lose access toclinicians whounderstandtheirchildhave built trusted relationshipsover timeandedelivertargetedinterventionsimprovelongtermoutcomesThelongtermcost losinglocalspecializedservicesmay far exceed any short-termsavingsachievedthroughrestrictive funding approaches.Disability reform should strengthen community capacity preserve special servicesnotunintentionallycreateconditionswhereexperienced locallocal providers are unable remain viable.

Yours Sincerely Sarah HamptonDirector Affirming Care Services Pty LtdPsychotherapist / CounsellorM.A.C.A. ACA R81659 EDU 396189