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

Submission 2190

Attention: Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs

Submitted by email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au cDate: May 29th,

We welcome the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. I am a family member of an NDIS participant I apologise if I have not submitted this submission in the format required.I feel there has not been enough time for me to express my viewsand it isthe bestIdo can doin timethat Ihave Please considermy pointof view.NDIS Submission My nameis redacted . Ichavemydaughterwithararegeneticcondition.Shehas generalised muscle weakness that means sheconfinedtoawheelchair and needs assistance with most tasks.Despite her disabilities shecompletedajournalism degree,is aworkingjournalistlives independently.My wife ,redacted andaIproud parents.Her motherandiwereheronlycarersbetween1999andafterthat.There was noNDSAnd wereliedonapatchworkofsupportfromvarioussourcesprimarilyreferredbytheroyalchildren’shospitalInMelbourneIncidentally, hernurologistsprofessor Monique Ryan who now thememberfor Kooyong.We were abletoreachacmotorizedwheelchairsomeaidsmanagetherdisability4 hours respite fromthecouncileveryfortnightco-payment.Itwasadifficulttimeourfamilytwootherkidswhomissedoutattentionbecause wealwaysbusycaringforthedaughterattendingshospitalsvisits onceor twiceaweekearlydays Takingresponsibilitytryingmakebestsituationtook toll on our family. We had mortgagepayall expenses raising three children Caring for daughter full-time job early days 24/7no daysoffWe both tried work finding childcare school support exhausting trying hold down jobs also ensuring daughtersneeds met at childcareandschool Oftenhad to fight basic facilities others took granted such as wheelchair accessible toilet.

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

Submission 2190

We collapsed under strain due to disability support

Our family experienced significant stress from providing care without adequate assistance. The mother had reduced her working hours significantly, sometimes stopping work altogether because she could no longer manage both caregiving responsibilities alongside employment as our sole income provider. As such an arrangement left us unable even make mortgage payments on time several times over. My family does not wish to share this story seeking sympathy; rather than being treated differently; or made vulnerable through unkindness, we want equal participation within society with dignity. We constantly resist those who see solely disabilities while ignoring individuals behind them.

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

Submission 2190

The outsourcing model of service delivery is the most expensive way to deliver services. The idea that the market will regulate the industry is a fantasy. Participants do not have the market knowledge to choose the most effective service to meet their needs. Often the participants are only given a choice of meeting their needs or not.

The NDIS is like a honey pot to service providers. They just have to get a health professional to say there is a need, then they charge whatever they want. Wiley salespeople work on pitches fitting individual’s needs, but cost isn’t something participants assess easily due to how it’s designed. Harder still: arguing costs jeopardizes access to equipment/services needed.

Conflicts stretch from allied professionals, plan managers & coordinators with service providers/suppliers/disability workers who all protect interests at expense of participant control/choice. These conflicts result in:

• Wheelchairs costing more than new cars;
• Support staff scheduled around provider rather than participant; this can be ten times overpriced; -Assistive tech tens-of-thousands dollars above its value; -Accommodation millions paid by NDIS/Gov benefits becoming private wealth - morphed into accumulation vehicle instead housing for people w disabilities; Community participation, transport and every service become self-generating money-making machines distorting original purpose set up serve them.

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

Submission 2190

what is happening. It is not the people with a disability that are causing the budget to draw out. It is the design of the system and the conflicts of interest inherent in it. My family understand why the proposed cuts to the NDIS are distressing. We can see how the 160,000 people with disabilities and their families feel. The support provided to them is invaluable for keeping their families together and coping with huge responsibilities they have.

Cost shifting to the states and territories will harm people Again, it is about system design. Lazy politicians are trying to shift responsibility onto someone else without any funding or plan to support those people.The States are not ready. Even if they start now they all say they do nothave resources to deliver same services.*This decision going segment decisions between state federal governments People may multiple disabilities Now adding another layer confusion who should provide service headed towards battle between state federa each blaming other non-delivery failure More bureaucracy make delivery more expensive Will absorb into separate administrations sets rules inconsistency delivering services between states compounded political persuasion government changes With waste setting up different systems receivers suffering scarce resources squandered building parallel duplication These reasons established first place Put participants First Central thrust submission Design model makes so expensive Our experience using NDIS made flaws failures cost blowouts obvious as participants

Design puts last Contrary rhetoric choice control every step others interests come first Financial needs providers before participant’s need investment improve NDIA agency There also problem in making even more expensive Bureaucratic tick box comes commonsense delivery of Support Excessive reports evidence trials records Allied health

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

Submission 2190

• Assessments are demanded. None of which are read.Decisions made without proper explanation. • There seems no service standard making decisions.BY time new problems arise need more decisions. • Communication is appalling: o Clients receive multiple letters interaction letters do not sense.They written cover themselves against complaint answer questions convey meaningful information.Trained lawyer would find difficult understand these letters average person trying get funding needed.service. o It impossible someone can your question give clarity. o Can take months year getting decision clear how basis. o You tell story multiple times different never seen person disabilities they ask most frustratingly obvious because know as an NDIS number. o Your dignity violated asking intrusive questions over again. The cost blows out delays.Frustration lack leads unhealthy relationship NDIA exploited providers.We have publicly criticised NDIA value support provided.NDIS want undermine its’ among people who use it.However,delay costly.In instance took years purchase $4,000 portable hoist meantime paid provider.$20,000 to hire from provider. We shift primary purpose providing support disability rather vehicle private sector grow wealth aim alleviate pain suffering with disability enabling them families actively participate society contribute benefits our like everyone else.

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

Submission 2190

If you do not have a disability, you would expect government services to take into account your personal circumstances and provides services like disaster relief, education and healthcare so that you can flourish, contribute and enjoy life. it should be the same for people with a disability.

Conclusion

Bringing Service provision in house would enable focus on participants first.It will not befor distorted by conflicts interests having meet need profit.That coupled investment improving NDIA client focused agency delivers efficiently service standardswouldreducecostNDIS or at least arrest it growth.Thegovernmentcould:

• Use its bulk buying power reduce costs.
• Investigate how provide supplies such wheelchairs mobility aids assistive technology more effectively.
• Build public housing stockforpeoplewithdisability thereby reducing cost of SDA funding over time.$5 billion year could addpublic assets for people disabilities rather thanproviding giftprivate sectorsprofitmaking.Therelossibilitiesareendless.