National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 225
Opposition to the NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026
I am an Occupational Therapist with 26 years of experience working in disability services,
including extensive experience supporting children and adults with complex disability across
clinical, community, early intervention and private practice settings. I write to formally express
my opposition to the NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026.
While I acknowledge the importance of ongoing reform to ensure the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) remains sustainable and effective, I am deeply concerned that the
proposed changes represent a significant step backwards for people with disability and their
families. In its current form, this Bill risks undermining the foundational principles of choice,
control, inclusion, and individualised support that the NDIS was established to protect.
I am particularly concerned about the proposed 50% reduction in social and community
participation funding from October 2026. In my clinical experience, social and community
participation is not a discretionary component of a person’s life; it is central to wellbeing,
identity, mental health, skill development, and long-term independence.
I have supported clients who, through the NDIS, have built full and meaningful lives—
developing friendships, participating in community activities, engaging in employment, and
building confidence and independence. A reduction of this magnitude will have direct and
profound impacts on these outcomes and will inevitably increase the burden on families,
many of whom are already providing substantial unpaid care and support.
I am also concerned about the proposed expansion of ministerial powers, including provisions
that may allow funding decisions to be made or reduced without meaningful access to appeal
processes (including reference to s 34A). The removal or weakening of independent review
mechanisms risks undermining fairness, transparency, and accountability within the scheme.
People with disability must retain the right to challenge decisions that directly impact their
lives, particularly where those decisions relate to essential supports required for daily
functioning and safety.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 225
The introduction of a standardised functional capacity test, particularly if applied without
adequate consideration of environmental and contextual factors, is also concerning.
Functional capacity cannot be meaningfully assessed in isolation from a person’s environment,
supports, and barriers. For example, an individual may be physically able to walk, but still be
unable to safely access stairs within their home environment or participate independently in
daily routines. A purely standardised assessment risks overlooking these practical realities of
everyday functioning and may lead to funding decisions that do not accurately reflect a
person’s genuine support needs.
I am also concerned about increased reliance on automated decision-making systems and
algorithms in funding determinations. Disability support requires nuanced understanding of
personal circumstances, choice, and control. Automated systems risk reducing individuals to
data points and may fail to capture the complexity of lived experience.
The NDIS has transformed the lives of many people with disability, enabling participation,
independence, and inclusion in ways previously not possible. While I acknowledge that the
system is not perfect and that reform is necessary to ensure sustainability, these changes must
be shaped through meaningful consultation with people with disability, families, and the
professionals who support them daily.
I strongly urge Parliament to reconsider the proposed NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026 and
to engage in genuine co-design with the disability community to ensure that any reforms
strengthen, rather than diminish, the rights, dignity, and opportunities of people with
disability.
Regards