National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission
Date: May 27th - June 5th,
I welcome your opportunity…
to make submission regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme amendment bill. as it stands. This requires further review before proceeding with Parliamentary Scrutiny and Transparency.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission
This would create significant uncertainty and stress for participants like me. It means important decisions affecting eligibility levels be made through primary legislation subject full parliamentary scrutiny, making it difficult to plan care stability stable lives. Recommendation: The issue: Existing participants face narrower criteria fewer rights to challenge decisions about their supports. How this affects participants: This does not protect participants already on NDIS who could bereassessed under stricter rules. If someone’s funding is reduced automatic renewal, you may have limited no ability challenging decision making hard getting extra support changing circumstance disabilities.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
Submission 2194
Recommendation:
Require a “no harm” safeguard ensuring no current participant loses access to supports unless equivalent supports are in place, with independent review rights before any exit decision and access to unscheduled reassessments preserved.
Unreviewable ministerial power to cut funding across all support categories
The Minister can reduce funding for any support or group of supports by a specified percentage through an instrument that cannot be challenged (Schedule 1 Part 4). This applies across all budget categories. Unspent funds will no longer carry over at plan renewal(Schedule 1 Part 5).
How this affects participants:A participants community participation, capacity building or assistive technology funding could be cut without warning and without any right to appeal. Participants who save unspent funds across plan periods for high-cost items will lose that ability entirely.
If funding for community participation, capacity building, or assistive technology is reduced or removed without warning or appeal rights.I could lose access to essentialsupports that I rely on for independence and daily functioning.This would make it difficult to plan or save for necessary supports and equipment,andwould significantlyreduce myabilitytoparticipateinthecommunityandmanagemydisabilitysafely.
Recommendation: Requirethatunspentfundscarryoveratplanrenewalforparticipants saving forthigh-costitemsandrequire independen t re viewrightsbeforeany f unding reduction takes effect.
Requirementtoexhausttreatmentoptions before eligibility The issue: A person with disabilitywill need toxhaust treatment optionsbeforetheycanbeeligibleforth e Scheme (Schedul elPart8) There wil also b removal of whole-of-person assessment,replaced by single eligible impairment consideration Schedule part3The note th previously acknowledged environmental factors an
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission
other ineligible impairments could affect support needs will be removed. How this affects participants: P…
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2194
How this affects participants:
If the assessment tool does not accurately capture the full extent of a person’s disability, including needs that fluctuate or vary over time, a participant may be found ineligible or have their supports undercounted, with no guarantee the result reflects their actual experience.
As an NDIS participant, my disability affects multiple areas of my daily functioning, and these impacts cannot always be fully captured in a point-in-time assessment. It is important that assessments reflect my whole experience so my supports are based on my actual needs, not a limited snapshot.
Recommendation: Do not proceed with I-CAN as the functional capacity assessment tool unless it has been demonstrably validated to identify the needs of all people with disability, including those with episodic or fluctuating disability, and demonstrated to be culturally appropriate for First Peoples with disability.
Supports cut before replacement system is ready
The issue: From October 1st 2025, the government announced funding reductions; social/civic/community participation will decrease by fifty percent while building daily activities support decreases ten per cent across all participants through ministerial instrument power Schedule Part . The Foundational Supports intended gap filler lacks confirmed implementation date operational yet.
How this affects participants:- Supports aiding community connection/skills development/independence maintenance might vanish without replacements leaving carers/families responsible but unsupported. These services often keep individuals visible/connected safe. This would affect me because social &civic/participation helps stay connected/build independence/take part everyday life reducing funds prematurely risks leaving like me without essential wellbeing/support.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2194
These supports are essential for helping people remain engaged in their communities and avoid isolation. Cutting them without a clear alternative would place more pressure on participants and their families while reducing opportunities to build skills and canicipate safely in the community.