National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Submission

Attention: Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Submitted via email at community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au - Saturday May 20th, 2026. I welcome my submission regarding [NDIS] Bill amendment. as a family member of NDIS participant, I worked past retirement age & paid taxes whole life believing country looks after its own people; however current government’s actions makes me doubt that belief.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill Submission

Recommendation:

Require that decisions affecting NDIS eligibility and funding levels must follow primary legislation subject to full parliamentary scrutiny. The people making these changes need expertise but not just counting skills, must notify affected participants in advance when rules change.

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

Submission 2209

will come out of the pockets of families who cannot afford it in this climate. I cannot offord it And I do not believe for second that is about anything but saving money would put Ministers getting rise before even passes They save keep salaries people actually need go without get screwed Most time don’t understand how works think because you either Recommendation Require independent review rights any funding reduction takes effect Requirement Exhaust treatment options eligibility The issue A person disability will need exhaustion treatment options they can be eligible Schedule Part whole-of-person replaced single impairment consideration note previously acknowledged environmental factors other ineligible impairments support needs removed People disability prove impairment treated before accessing scheme supports assessed against single rather than experience individual circumstances considered including able payment where live whether available recommendation Do proceed exhaust appropriate treatment there are no safeguarding measures around participant harm due side effects complication participants’ financial ability pay geographical capacity access Unvalidated functional capacity risk misidentifying need

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 2209

The Issue:

• Bill shifts: Assessment from whole-of-person consideration to a single eligible impairment.
  • Read together with eligibility thresholds,
    • Tool used must identify whether person meets threshold accurately across impairments.*

Named assessment tools include I-CAN which requires validation but needs trained health professionals who can use it properly*

• If tool does not capture full extent of disability including fluctuating or varying over time*, participant might become ineligible or have supports undercounted without guaranteeing result reflects actual experience**

My grandchild’s needs are inconsistent daily*. A good day allows managing impossible tasks on bad days*. Single assessments cannot fully reflect this variability**, leading some people being assessed as needing less than they do***

I trust NDIs staff poorly due to difficulty understanding reports submitted despite my ability to understand even though non-medical professional****

Recommendation: Do Not proceed using ICAN unless validated sufficiently and users capable*****

Supports cut before replacement system is ready

The issue:** From October, government announced funding cuts social/civic/community participation by half capacity building activities reduced ten percent all participants. These reductions will be implemented through ministerial instrument power in Schedule Part Four. Foundational Support System intended gap has no confirmed implementation date operational yet****** Supports that help connect community build skills maintain independence may also be cut leaving carers unsupported*******

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

Submission 2209

families with greater responsibilities and no additional support. These supports are often what help people stay visible, connected and safe. When you cut these supports, the gap comes back to families who won’t be able to fill it.My greatest fear is that my grandchild loses this support, needs me more, and I am not able to be there. Recommendation: Require that no reductions to community participation or capacity building supports take effect until Foundational Supports are fully operational, adequately funded and demonstrably able to meet the needs of those who will lose NDIS supports.The rules for the NDIS have changed more times in the past few years my grandchild has been a participant than they have been for tax in my lifetime. My grandchild’s plan has changed our lives and anything stripped away would crush our family.I am not a political person. I am a grandparent who worked hard, paid into this country,and trusted it to do right by all of us. I am asking you to honour that trust.I do not want my grandchild’s life to be decided behind closed doors,by a tool no onehas proven works ,or by cuts before anythingis builtto replaceit .Iwantmygrandchilddo assess asa wholeperson,bypeoplewho understand disabilitywith therighttobe heard if adecision iss wrong.That istoo much t askof Scheme meant lookafter people like my grandchild.Do not passthis Billastands.Give time,the scrutinyand honesty shouldhave had from start.Get detailsrightbeforeyouask power change lives.My grandchildplanchangedourlives betteranythingstrippedaway nowwouldcrushfamilyways we never recoverfrom. Thankyoutaking timeread submission.