Submission: NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026

Prepared by [redacted], Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Melbourne, Victoria - 29 May 2026

About the Submitter

I am a paediatric occupational therapist with five years’ experience working within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). I work in private practice in Melbourne supporting children and teenagers with complex neurodevelopmental profiles including autistic young people with Pathological Demand Avoidance Profiles.

Section 1: Concerns about Proposed Legislative Changes

Eligibility Tightening

The proposed changes will disproportionately affect those who support me such that they cannot leave homes for months at times due to burnout from neurological overwhelm which makes participation impossible.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill 2026

Submission 2150

Restrictions on Provider Choice

I am concerned about proposed restrictions on provider choice and control. In my practice, I work with families who have spent (years) finding clinicians they trust; practioners describing specific expertise: PDA; trauma-informed care;sensory processing;and complex neurodivergent presentationssuch as these clinician are frequently unavailable through large organisations or registered providers lists.The therapeutic relationships my clients buildwith their providersare central to them.I see firsthand what happens when a child loses access due fundingor provider restriction:Engagement breaks down.Dysregulation increases.Families back square one.Choicecontrol allowed families right support for child’s needs,concerning restricting this will reduce safety increase harm most participants.

Increased Administrative Burden Families Clinicians

Over five years NDIS practice administrative load maintaining participant funding increased substantially.Spent significant portions week completing reports reassessment documentation funding justifications.Time not available direct therapy children I watch navigate system extraordinary effort.Parents already managing crisis manage exhaustion often manage own neurodiverse required repeatedly prove existence lifelong disabilities several described the process second full-time job. Proposed changes risk increasing burden further precisely point many of those least capacity absorb it.

Concern Foundational Supports While Foundational supports presented alternative pathway concerns whether accessible children clinical experience existing systems including schools public mental health services paediatric health services chronically underresourced unable meet need neurodivergent with presentations.Worked across multiple systems told needs too complex waitlists long service does have expertise required supported families turned away every available service.Risk that lose NDIS access simply receive meaningful elsewhere is something observed serious consequences:

crisis family breakdown worsening mental health lost developmental progress.

Human Rights Concerns Aspects proposed legislative raise human rights concerns particularly in relation to young people work.United Nations Convention on Persons Disabilities (CRPD) affirms disabled persons’ ability participate fully society and

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

Submission 2150

exercise genuine choice and control over their lives. In my clinical practice, the NDIS has been the mechanism that has made this possible for many of my clients. I have seen children who were housebound begin to engage with learning. I have seen families movefrom crisis to stability.Policies that reduce flexibility,narrow eligibility, or limit access toappropriate supportsrisk undermining these rights.Particularlyfor participantswithcommunication differences,pyschosocial disabilities,and complex neurodevelopmentalprofileswho require non-traditional approaches tocared.

Section 2: Recommendations

I strongly urgethe governmentto reconsideraspectsoftheproposedlegislationandtomeaningfullyconsultwiddisabledpeople,familiescliniciansandanadvocacyorganisationsbefore implementingfurtherreforms.Inparticular:

• Preservingparticipantchoiceandocontrolincludingaccesstospecialisedprovidersoftheir choice.- Reducingunnecessaryadministrativeburdensonfamiliesandclinicians.- EnsuringFoundationalSupportsare fully funded,evidence-based ,andreallycapableofofmeeting participant needs before any reduction inNDISaccesoccurs.- EmbeddingdisabilityrightsandprinciplesCRPDatcentrerallNDS reforms.- Ensuringthat accessto supportsand funding decisions are determined byappropriatesessmentsconductedbyqualifiedprofessionalswit relevantexpertiseinthedisabilityprofilesbeingassessed.The NDIS has been life-changing for many of the children and familiesthisupport.I havewitnessedthisdirectlyintheday-to-daylivesrealchildrenwhorenowsafer,moreregulatedandsa more able to participate their own lives because supports plans have made possible. I am deeply concerned that proposed changes risk reversing this progress leaving some most vulnerable young people community withoutsupports need live safely meaningfull. Paediatric Occupational Therapist Melbourne,Victoria