National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 218
Submission to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
My name is Amber Blythe and I am writing this submission as a parent.
I support the goal of protecting the long-term future of the NDIS. However, I am concerned about how future reforms may affect children and families who rely on supports to maintain stability, independence, and participation in the community.
As a parent of a child who will require ongoing support into adulthood, I worry about what the future will look like if access to supports becomes more restricted.
One of my biggest concerns is social and community participation supports. These supports are often misunderstood as “extras,” when in reality they play a vital role in helping disabled people build confidence, independence, social skills, and connection to the community.
These supports are also essential for families and carers in maintaining stability, balance, and long-term sustainability within the home.
Without appropriate supports, many parents may struggle to maintain employment while also meeting the full-time care needs of their child. I personally worry about my own ability to continue working in the future if my son is unable to access the supports he needs to safely participate in the community and build independence outside the home.
I am also concerned about the increasing expectation that families rely on informal supports. I cannot rely on informal supports such as family members to care for my son, as they also have work and family responsibilities of their own. I worry that there is an assumption families will simply “step in” if supports are reduced, but for many families this is not realistic or sustainable long-term.
Not all families have relatives available to assist with caring responsibilities, and many extended family members are already balancing full-time work, financial pressures, children, or their own health concerns. Families should not be placed in a position where they are expected to fill gaps in essential supports without proper consideration of their real-life capacity.
Reducing supports may not reduce need — it may simply shift the burden onto parents, carers, and already stretched families. In the long term, this can lead to increased stress, burnout, financial hardship, social isolation, and reduced workforce participation for carers.
Supports that help disabled people participate in the community and build independence should be viewed as preventative and protective supports, not optional extras. These supports benefit not only the individual, but also the long-term wellbeing and sustainability of families and carers.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 218
I believe future reforms to the NDIS should:
- Protect access to community participation and social supports,
- Recognise the important role parents and carers play,
- Consider the long-term impact on families if supports are reduced and ensure disabled people are not isolated from their communities due to funding restrictions.
The NDIS has made a meaningful difference in many families’ lives, including families like mine. I respectfully ask that future reforms remain person-centred and carefully consider the long-term impact on disabled people, carers, and future generations.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Amber Blythe