NDIA Accountability Project

Psychosocial disability, PTSD, and dissociation

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

Submission 2179

Submission to Parliamentary Inquiry

Subject: National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Psychosocial Disability Support

*Name:

Location: Sydney, NSW

Date: 29 May 2026

Submission Type: Individual

1. Overview

I am making this submission as a person living with severe psychosocial disability, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and dissociation.

My condition is long-term and significantly impacts my ability to function independently, participate in education, and engage in employment. I rely on appropriate disability supports to maintain stability and avoid deterioration in my mental health.

2. Personal Circumstances

My disability affects multiple areas of daily life:

  • I experience persistent psychological distress, affecting concentration, memory, and emotional regulation
  • Dissociation limits my ability to remain present, particularly in unfamiliar or structured environments
  • I am often unable to attend in-person education such as TAFE due to these limitations
  • My functional capacity fluctuates and can deteriorate under stress

3. Treatment History

I have participated in long-term treatment, including therapy and other interventions. Despite sustained engagement:

  • My condition remains significantly impairing
  • Improvements have been limited
  • Some treatments have not been effective

4. Support Needs

Due to my condition, I require flexible and appropriate supports, including:

  • Access to in-home learning or skill-building support, as external environments are often not manageable
  • Support that accommodates fluctuating capacity
  • Continuity of care to prevent deterioration

5. Concerns Regarding NDIS Policy Changes

I have concerns about proposed or emerging policy directions that may:

  • Restrict access for people with psychosocial disabilities
  • Emphasise treatment completion rather than functional impact
  • Apply rigid criteria that do not reflect complex, fluctuating conditions
  • Reduce or remove necessary supports

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

Submission 2179

6. Recommendations

  • Recognise psychosocial disability as a serious and often long-term condition
  • Base eligibility and support decisions on functional capacity, not expected recovery
  • Ensure access to flexible supports, including in-home services
  • Avoid requiring individuals to undergo ineffective or inappropriate treatments
  • Provide stability and certainty in support for people with chronic conditions

7. Conclusion

My disability is real, ongoing, and significantly limits my ability to participate in society without support.

Reducing access to appropriate supports will not increase independence. It will increase harm, stability, and long-term costs.

I urge decision-makers to consider the lived experience of people with psychosocial disabilities when shaping NDIS policy.