NDIA Accountability Project

This project is in DRAFT

Power wheelchair funding delays and inconsistent decision-making (Family or carer experience)

‹ PrevPage 1 of 5 · Source p. 1Next ›

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

Submission 2073

Submission to the NDIS Parliamentary Committee – Proposed NDIS Reforms

Relationship to Participant: Parent and primary carer of an NDIS participant

Introduction

I am the parent and full-time carer of my son who has significant lifelong disabilities. I write this submission in response to proposed changes made under [NDIS]([National Disability Insurance Scheme]) (Integrity, Safeguarding). The bill focuses primarily upon integrity safeguarding but also highlights practical issues faced participants including inconsistent decisions delays administrative burden.My submission is based on lived experience perspective.I support reforms which strengthen sustainability reduce waste deeply concerned some proposals create more barriers people with complex needs.Submission areas direct experience improvements can be achieved without compromising outcomes. 1.The Need Clear Consistent Evidence-Based Decision Making One most significant issue families face inconsistency Decisions planners reviewers external assessors vary widely even when evidence strong unchanged In our case essential equipment such as power wheelchair declined multiple times different reasons despite clinical recommendations functional assessments clear need item decline back queue start over process takes well year. Key Issues:

  • Decisions often appear rely interpretation rather than evidence.
  • Families required re-submit same reports repeatedly.
  • Declines sometimes assumptions rather function reality.
  • Appeals slow resource-intensive for both family Agency. Recommendations: Introduce nationally consistent decision framework requires assessor clearly reference they relied explain align legislation Require decision makers provide plain-language justification directly addresses each piece submitted evidence Implement no wrong door rule where already held by the agency does not resubmitted unless participant’s needs have changed.

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

Submission 2073

Equipment and Assistive Technology: Reduce Waste, Not Access

The proposed reforms aim to reduce unnecessary spending, which is reasonable. However, the current system already creates waste through delays, repeated assessments, short-term rental arrangements. Most suppliers don’t offer rent-to-buy options to reduce the final cost once an item is approved. In our situation, the refusal to fund a power wheelchair resulted in:

  • Months of rental fees exceeding purchase costs; The need to buy second-hand equipment privately; Reduced mobility/participation due to my son’s condition; Additional strain on informal supports. Key Issues:
  • Delays increase rather than decrease costs.; Participants requiring customised items cannot be replaced (standard); Rental periods become excessively long because decision-making slows down., We could have purchased loan equipment instead if funding was wasted on rentals. Recommendations:\n* Introduce fast-track pathways for essential mobility where clinical evidence exists. * Allow offsetting rental payments against purchases when Agency causes delay;. Create national AT panel providing rapid independent advice about complex equipment.. Establish Ryan’s Rule-like call systems for participants or informals who encounter issues with planners/decision-makers making serious errors that require S100 submissions followed by waiting 4–6 months..

Reducing Administrative Burden On Families

Families carry heavy loads managing therapy schedules and daily care while navigating constant justification requirements from NDIS processes. Proposed reforms risk increasing paperwork/reassessment frequency disproportionately affecting families supporting high-needs individuals. Key Issues: Repeated reassessments create unnecessary stress.

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

Submission 2073

  • Carers spend hours preparing documentation that the Agency already holds, loses, or does not read.

The administrative burden contributes to burnout and reduces capacity to provide care.

Recommendations:

  • Adopt a “once for life” approach for conditions that are permanent and degenerative.
  • Limit reassessments to changes in functional need, not arbitrary timeframes. Provide a single point of contact for complex participants to reduce duplication and confusion.

Ensuring Reforms Do Not Reduce Choice and Control

Choice and control are core principles of the NDIS. Some proposed changes risk shiftingdecision making away from participants and towards rigid categories or pre-approved lists.While standardisation can help reduce waste, it must not override individual needs —especially for people with rare or complex conditions. Key Issues:

  • Standardised support lists may not accommodate unique or low-incidence disabilities. Participants may lose flexibility to tailor supports to their actual daily life. Over-prescription of“typical”supports risks leaving complex participants behind.

Recommendations:

Maintain individualised planning for participants with complex or rare conditions.Ensure any standardised support lists include a clear exception pathway supported by clinical evidence.Protect participant choice in selecting providers, equipment, and support models.

A System That Learns From Its MistakesFamilies often feel that the system does not learn from repeated patterns of failure.Whena participant is declined essential supports multiple times only to have them eventuallyapproved after lengthy appealsthe cost to the Agencyis far greater than if the decisionhad been made correctly first.time.Key issues:Appealsand reviews consume significantAgency resources.Participants experience unnecessary harm during delays.There ist no transparent mechanismfor identifying systemicissues.Recommendations:

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

Submission 2073

  • Establish a feedback loop where overturned decisions are analysed to identify patterns.
  • Publish de-identified data on common reasons for successful appeals.
  • Use this data to improve training and decision-making guidelines.

Social and Community Participation: Essential, Not Optional

The Bills Digest notes that reforms may narrow access to certain supports, including social and community participation. For many participants, these supports are not “nice to have” — they are essential for wellbeing, safety, and development. My son has recently left school and requires 24/7 care. Social and community participation is one of the few structured ways he can engage with the world, build skills, and maintain emotional stability. Any reduction in this area would have a direct and negative impact on his wellbeing. Key issues:

  • Cuts to community participation disproportionately affect people with high support needs.
  • Without structured community access, participants can become isolated, distressed, and lose functional skills.
  • Families are left to fill the gap, increasing carer burnout and reducing the participant’s independence.
  • The proposed reforms risk treating community participation as discretionary when it is foundational. Recommendations:
  • Protect funding for social and community participation for participants with high complex needs.
  • Recognise community access as a core support for people who require 24/7 care.
  • Ensure any changes to support categories do not reduce access for participants transitioning out of school or other structured environments.
  • Require planners to consider the wellbeing and safety impacts of reducing community participation supports.

Conclusion

The NDIS is a vital system that has transformed the lives of many Australians including my family I support reforms that strengthen its sustainability but these reforms must not come at the cost of fairness accessibility dignity My key message simple Consistency clarity timely decision making will save money reduces waste improve outcomes Participants.

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

Submission 2073

Families like mine want to work with the Agency, not against it. With thoughtful adjustments, the proposed reforms can achieve their goals while preserving the core coreprinciplesthatmaketheNDISworthprotecting. Thankyouforconsideringsubmission.