National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 226
Submission regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Thriving Kids Occupational Therapy is a small paediatric occupational therapy practice based in Shellharbour supporting children with developmental delay, autism and other neurodivergent needs and disabilities across clinic, school, community and telehealth settings. We have been practicing in the Illawarra for more than 12 years. Our director, Belinda van Wel, is an occupational therapist of more than 20 years experience, and continues to work directly with families as a senior clinician, as well as providing clinical supervision to others in the team.
Our work includes direct therapy in clinic, home, community and school settings, parent coaching, collaboration with schools and educators, and supporting families to implement practical strategies within everyday routines and environments.
We support the goal of improving the long-term sustainability of the NDIS and recognise the importance of building strong foundational supports for children and families. However, we are concerned about the likely practical impacts of these reforms on children, families, clinicians and communities, particularly in regional areas.
Many families are already struggling to access timely supports due to workforce shortages, increasing demand and long waitlists. In regional communities such as Shellharbour and surrounding areas, provider options are often limited and families may wait many months for paediatric therapy services.
We are particularly concerned that stricter reassessment requirements may make it more difficult for children and families to access support when needs change over time.
For many neurodivergent children, challenges emerge gradually across:
- school participation
- emotional regulation
- sensory needs
- social participation
- daily routines
- family functioning
Reduced flexibility within the system may delay access to support until problems become more severe, increasing pressure on families, schools and community services.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 226
We are also concerned that increasing reliance on foundational and community supports may occur before sufficient workforce capacity and service availability exist to meet demand.
Private paediatric providers are already under significant pressure due to:
- workforce shortages
- clinician burnout
- increasing operating costs
- difficulty recruiting clinicians to regional areas
If existing providers reduce services or close, families may experience:
- loss of trusted therapeutic relationships
- worsening waitlists
- reduced local access to supports
- reduced continuity of care
- increased pressure on parents, educators and schools
These impacts are likely to disproportionately affect regional communities where alternative services may not be readily available.
We encourage continued consultation with families, clinicians and frontline providers throughout implementation of these reforms to ensure practical realities and unintended consequences are carefully considered.
Recommendations
We respectfully recommend:
- protecting access to early intervention and preventative supports
- ensuring experienced private providers remain part of the broader support ecosystem
- strengthening regional workforce and service capacity through collaboration with existing private and other providers
- supporting continuity of care for children and families
- continuing meaningful consultation during implementation
The long-term success of these reforms will depend on whether children and families can continue to access timely, practical and sustainable supports within their local communities.