NDIA Accountability Project

Carer of two NDIS participants

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

Submission 2216

Dear Committee,

I am writing as a carer of two NDIS participants. My main concern is the impact that these changes will have on available supports for my children and therefore my increased carer burden. In real life, this looks like children that don’t have access to strategies and support they need which results in highly dysregulated children. The consequence is increased stress and workload in my family home which means that I cannot work full time or own my own business as my children’s needs are too high and I will be unsupported.

I am concerned about the ‘presumption’ that parents are responsible for providing substantial care and support for their children, including “supervision, personal care, transport, emotional support and behavioural support”. Having two children with disabilities is a much greater workload than having two children without disabilities. I love my children more than anything but carers need more support and help to avoid burnout as it is relentless and the stress can be overwhelming at times.

I am concerned about what reductions in funding availability for ‘social and community participation’ will have on the quality of life of NDIS participants and their main carers. Not being able to safely participate in community events will lead to more time spent at home and increased social isolation and loneliness.

I’m also concerned about what the changes to functional capacity requirements mean for people on the NDS. I’m worried that a standardized form might result in some people that need support missing out. Particularly for autistic children that are high masking.

There are so many other ways that the NDS can save money rather than targeting NDS participants. I support reform that deals with fraud, waste and poor practice. I also agree that the NDs also needs to prevent overcharging to ensure participants on self-managed plans are not over-paying for services. But I do not support the removal of participants who are already accessing and benefiting from the NDI to save money when there are better ways to save money such as targeting fraud and corrupt NDIS businesses.

NDIS plans need to be more consistent and fair and not dependent on which NDIS worker receives the case. Reviews should still be undertaken annually to ensure the plans are meeting the participants needs or earlier when the participant identifies they need a change. Reviews should also involve the NDIs staff member calling the participant to explain their decision rather than sending formal written correspondence with no direct contact to reply to at the NDIS. This leaves participants with the only option thereafter to go to the tribunal. If the NDIS listened to participants and their carer’s needs, less NDIS money would be wasted on legal fees for the ART tribunal. A more effective NDIS system would result in more savings as there would be less disgruntled participants having to go to the ART tribunal.

I’m concerned about the Ministers sweeping powers to remove NDS supports which does not take into consideration individual needs and circumstances. This looks like people with disabilities having unmet needs and a reduced quality of life.

Also it’s great that you would like all disability service providers to be NDs registered. However, it’s important that independent support workers have a pathway to register that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars and ensures NDI participants still have choice and control of their workers. This means we don’t have to go through an agency and pay agency fees so we can negotiate our own rates with support workers to save the NDIS money. If registration fees are too high then this will eliminate the amount of support workers that can afford to register, therefore limiting supply of support workers, resulting in reduced choice and control.

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

Submission 2216

I ask the Committee to consider

  • Make sure rule changes are clear, public, and tested before they affect participants.
  • Protect continuity of support during reassessments and plan changes.
  • Consider the impact of carer burden and the reduced quality of life when changes are made such as reduced social and community participation funding.

Thank you for considering my submission,

Carer of two NDIS participants