National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment - Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill

Submission TO THE SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Re: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment—Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill

To Committee Members, I am writing as an independent NDIS Support Coordinator who works every day with participants,families,carers.providers.plan managers,LACs,and theNDIA.I support genuine reform. I support stronger safeguards. I support stopping fraud. I support protecting participants from providerswho exploitthe system anda take advantageof vulnerable people. WhatIdo notsupportisreformthatpunisheslegitimateSupport Coordinatorswhileparticipantsareleftmoreexposedtoharm. Ifthepurposeoft hisBillistoprotectthefutureofthenDis, thenitmustrecognisethe realworktha tSuppor tCo ordin atorsdoeveryday.Suppo rt Coordination isnotjust“linkingpeopletoservices”.Itisonet offewpractical safeguardsmanyparticipantshavebetweenthemandsystemfailure.unsafeproviders.financialabuse.servicecollapse andcrisis.TheN Disalreadyhaspathwaysto reportissuesanda ndcomplaintsa boutpro vidersthrought he ND ISQualitya n dSa f eg u ar dsCom mission.Myconcern isthatpartici pantsoftenneedaskilledpersonbesidethem toidentif ythesu bject,u nderstandtherisk,gather theeviden ceandoactbeforethesesituationsbecomesworse.Infact,ittookover12monthsfortfraudd epartmenttor espondtom yreportsubm ittedtot hembackinearly205.Even thatwasagener alacknowledgementoreceivingmyreport.Istilldon’tknowify theyha veactionedanythingatallasthis particularr companyis still abusing participantsplans.THISISTHY FRAUDCONTINUES! A day in the life ofan independent Support Coordinator(Me) 8:00am—Istartthedaycheckingurgentemails,textmessages,cancelledshifts,provider issues, p l an managerqueriesandparticipant crises.

SASHASACHS—EMPOWRINGYOURLIFE

Submission To The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

This is where the system failure becomes very clear. Before I can even discuss the participant’s situation, the operator often cannot find the consent to share information form. I am then placed on hold while they search. This can take 20 minutes or more. Three weeks ago, I was on hold for 55 minutes while the operator tried to locate my consent to share form. They eventually found it. That time is not free. It is not harmless. It comes out of the participant’s limited Support Coordination budget. Why is the consent to share form not front-and-centre for customer service staff? It is the first document they need when a Support Coordinator calls. If it cannot be located quickly, the participant pays the price.

This is not good enough. 1:00am —I explain NDIS plans to participants and families who do not understand what has been funded or how to use them. Many participants cannot read their plan into practical supports; many don’t comprehend categories, budgets, service agreements claims provider obligations review rights, 11:00am—I chase therapy reports functional assessments quotes invoices services agreement evidence for plan reviews Without this work without this work many participants would miss review deadlines fail provide essential support needed access essential supports deadlines or fail providing necessary evidence required to access essential supports. 12:00pm—-I deal with plan managers about invoices Budget issues questionable claims This helps prevent overspending misuse funds providers charging incorrectly. 13:00pm-I attend meetings Participants Families schools hospitals allied health professionals housing providers LACs NDIA staff. 24:00pm - I help participants find safe suitable providers safeguarding When cognitive disability psychosocial trauma communication difficulties poor literacy informal support at serious risk unsafe workers providers see easy money ATM. 35:00pm-I respond Service breakdowns A worker cancels Provider withdraws Family member burns out Participant left food transport personal care community access. 46:00pm-I write summaries Change of Situation requests S 100 submissions And provider evidence detailed time consuming often done under pressure because participant already in crisis 57:00pm —Support families sent links by LAC told themselves Or they can’t speak their LAC unless appointment made weeks time. This is one biggest issue want Committee understand. SASHA SACHS – EMPOWRING YOUR LIFE #2

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 230

SUBMISSION TO THE SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Many participants do not have the capacity to action a link. They may not understand the language. They may not have the confidence to call providers. They may not know what questions to ask. They can’t compare options, and don’t fully grasp risks involved in choosing different service providers. Sending links is insufficient support alone because it doesn’t address these fundamental issues:

• Unpaid Calls: At times when someone needs help but no one else can assist, support coordinators make unpaid calls due to distressing situations where there’s an urgent need that isn’t being met with available hours of funding matching actual requirements;
• **Roster Rebuilding & Family Coordination: Support workers cancel their shifts frequently; thus, rebuilding rosters becomes necessary as well as helping families determine who will be providing care services at specific intervals ensuring safety concerns are addressed;

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 230

SUBMISSION TO THE SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

A participant with strong family support, good literacy and confidence may be able to navigate some of the system alone. Most NDIS participants cannot. That is not a personal failure. Thatis the natureof disability.TheN DIS mustnotbe designedaroundthassumptionthat everyonecan selfadvocate, interpret policy,manage budgets, compare providers , challenge invoicesand lodgereviews .`

• Go after th eproviders abusingthesystem If provider sareabusingthesesy stem then goafterthoseprovider s. If thereifraudinvestigateit . Iftherei soverchargingstop it . If thererunsafeprovidersexploitingvulnerablepeopleremovethem . Butdo n otpunishlegitimateSupportCoordinatorswho aretryingto protectparticipantsfrom exactly those risks.Supp ort Co ordin atorsar often peoplewhonoticewhensomthingistrong.Weseetheinvoices.Wehe ar et heparticipant’sconcerns. W enoticewhenaproviderisondeliveringwhattheypromised Weidentifywhenaparticipantisebeingmanipulatedorignored.Ifyoucutusoutparticipan tslossethatlayerprotectionRegistration anda uditscosts:`I suppor tregistrationforSupp ortCoord inat ors.Ibelieve registration canimproveaccountability, quality and participant safety.But the cost of auditsisa realbarrierforsmallindependent

providers.Manyo f usarenolargeorganisati ons withcorporateback ing.We do not makelarg ep rofits.Weworklonghours. Carry risk .Absorb unpaid work.Stayinthesectorbecause wecareaboutourclientsand aboutbillable hours Ifreg istratio becomesmandatorythentheauditprocessmustbefair, proportionateanda ndaffordable fors oletradersandsm allproviders.Otherwise,the system willpush outexperienced d andethical independent Support Coordina torswhilelargerprovider ssurvive because theycan absorbthecost .Thiswill reducet partic ipantchoice.Itwil alsoremoveth everypeop lewhooften provide them ostpersonalisedsupportFinal message to th eCommittee:

• I am frustratedandiamsad for NDIS participants. - Iamfrustratedthatparticipantspayfromtheirplans whileSupportCoordinatorssit onhold becausconsentformscannotbe located . - I a m frust rated thatoverdueS100reviews anda ngeofSituationrequestsrequire constantfollowup.-Ia mf rustr atedtha tfamiliesaresenl ikswhentheyneedhuman support.` -I ama sfra stratedt hata llegalSupp ort Co ordinat orsarebeingspokenabou t asifwearet he problem whenmany of us are the peoplepreventingparticipan ts fromfallingthrough

cracks.SASHA SACHS – EMPOWRING YOUR LIFE4

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Bill

Submission: Securing NDIS Future Generations 2026

Submission To The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

Please don’t design reforms just looking good; they must work.

Ensure participant safety with stronger protections against fraudsters while maintaining independent support coordination services as needed, such as those provided at Empowering Your Life (EYL).

Participation requires more than mere connections; it demands individuals knowledgeable about each person’s needs within this complex framework—people committed enough to advocate strongly towards ensuring SAFETY, RESPECT & HUMAN VALUES.

Thanks a lot!

Signature: Sasha Sacha Role: Support Coordinators Organization Name: Empowering Your Life