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

Submission 2278

Good morning,

I am writing as the parent and primary carer of my 5-year-old son, , who is autistic and lives in Queensland, in response to the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS) Bill 2026.

I am deeply concerned about the proposed Thriving Kids program, which from 1 January 2028 would divert autistic children aged 8 and under who are assessed as having “low to moderate” support needs away from the NDIS. Public discussion surrounding these reforms has also used the term “mild” to describe these children. However, “mild” is not a recognised clinical classification within the DSM-5 or ICD-11 and does not accurately reflect the complexity of support needs experienced by many autistic children and their families.

My son has ASD Level 2, is non-speaking and has sensory processing disorder. He currently relies on weekly speech therapy and occupational therapy, as well as intensive daily support provided by me as his sole carer. While his support needs may appear “low to moderate” on paper, that does not reflect the reality of our daily life or the level of intervention required for him to communicate, regulate, learn and participate safely in the world around him. The progress he has made has only been possible because of early intervention and consistent therapy. Without these supports, his development, independence and future quality of life would be significantly impacted. As a his sole carer, I could not afford to privately fund the therapies he requires to continue developing essential life and communication skills.

Analysis by Disability Support Consultants of the NDIA’s own consultation documents indicates the Agency anticipates that most autistic children would receive mid-range funding, with only a small proportion expected to qualify for higher levels of support. This appears inconsistent with the foundational principle of the NDIS that participants should be assessed according to their individual circumstances and needs.

I am also concerned that the Thriving Kids program has not been fully co-designed with autistic people and families, that there is limited publicly available evidence supporting the proposed model, and that there are no clearly defined or guaranteed pathways back into the NDIS should a child’s support needs increase over time.

I respectfully ask the Committee to ensure that no autistic child is diverted into a separate support system unless that system provides equivalent individually assessed supports, is properly co-designed with autistic people and families, and includes clear, funded pathways back into the NDIS where required. Autistic children should be assessed and supported according to their individual needs, not grouped into broad funding categories that may fail to reflect the realities of their disability and support requirements.

Yours sincerely,