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

Submission 2070

Dear Minister,

I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the proposed NDIS changes under Bill 3 and the broader legislative reforms currently being discussed.

I write not only as a parent of a child with disability, but also as someone who has worked within the NDIS sector since the rollout in our local area. I have spent years supporting vulnerable participants and families as a Support Coordinator and have seen both the strengths and the significant failings of the system firsthand.

There is no denying that there are issues within the NDIS that need addressing. Fraud, misuse of funds, inconsistent planning decisions, and inequity across participants are real concerns. However, there are also many incredible success stories within the NDIS space that are often being overlooked in the current narrative.

As a parent, I see this every day in my own home.

My son is 22 years old and lives with ASD Level 1 and Major Depressive Disorder. He does not want 1:1 support all day, group programs, or respite services. What he wants is dignity, purpose, and the ability to maintain employment so he can live as independently as possible, just like many other young adults his age.

The supports he requires are minimal but essential:

• approximately 40 minutes each morning to ensure he is awake, prepared for work, and has completed personal care; He uses independent provider to avoid the 2 hour minimum under award.

• and around 2 hours and 20 minutes after work to assist with meal preparation, cleaning up, and basic household tasks.

Without these small supports, maintaining employment becomes extremely difficult. With them, he contributes to society, earns his own income, maintains routine, and experiences a sense of independence and self-worth that is invaluable for his mental health.

This is what the NDIS was meant to do.

I am deeply concerned that the current reforms are moving away from individualised supports and towards broad cost-cutting measures that fail to understand the realities of disability and support needs.

In my professional role, I have assisted many vulnerable people who have lost significant amounts of funding despite having clear and ongoing support needs. At the same time, there have also been occasions where we have informed the NDIA that participants appeared to have excessive funding allocations. We have reported

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

Submission 2070

suspected fraud and misuse of funds on numerous occasions, yet to date, we have seen little meaningful action or accountability.

It is incredibly frustrating for honest participants, families, and providers to watch genuine supports being reduced while systemic misuse continues unchecked.

I am also concerned regarding the proposed movement of approximately 300,000 participants into “Foundational Supports.” From the perspective of those working on the ground, this appears less like genuine reform and more like administrative restructuring designed to reduce official NDIS participant numbers without ensuring equivalent supports actually exist.

Moving people into another service system does not magically create the infrastructure, workforce, or resources needed to support them. Foundations must first be built before people can safely transition into them. Otherwise, vulnerable Australians risk falling through the gaps entirely.

The disability community does not oppose accountability, sustainability, or reform. What we oppose is reform that occurs without genuine consultation, transparency, or understanding of the lived realities of disability.

I urge the Government to listen to participants, families, frontline workers, and providers before implementing changes that may have devastating long-term consequences for some of Australia’s most vulnerable citizens.

The NDIS has changed lives for the better when implemented properly. Please do not lose sight of the people behind the policies.