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

Submission: Submission 2360

Inquiry:

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS) for Future Generations) Bill 2026 I am an autistic woman; a mother of disabled children; an Practice Manager in paediatric allied health. Both personally & professionally, since I see realities behind disability policy every day. I work alongside disabled childrens’ family caregivers clinicians who support them. Children waiting assessments supports Families navigating complex systems, caregivers reducing hours leaving workforce to provide care Clinicians working within sector already under significant pressure. Support sustainable NDIS Support accountability good governance ensuring public money spent responsibly However sustainability cannot be considered isolation from outcomes Purpose NDLS enable people with disabilities participate communities build relationships exercise choice control pursue goals education employment live meaningful lives Concern not reform occurring concern many reforms granted powers establish new assessment decision-making frameworks before underlying rules safeguards implementation details publicly scrutinised Throughout this submission raise concerns transparency participant rights,assessment processes increasing reliance families carers capacity existing systems absorb additional demand Reform intended improve sustainability may reduce without sufficient evidence alternative system have ability meet resulting need. The was established enabling ordinary life participation their community and exercising choice control Any reform should ultimately judged whether strengthens or weakens right dignity inclusion partipation disability person Cost Shifting Absence Public Modelling My concern is that support needs do disappear when funding reduced Those met elsewhere absorbed by Family left unmet This raises important questions about impact proposed reforms

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

Submission 2360

Consequences of Withdrawing Support on Health Systems

The consequences of withdrawing support include impacts across various systems such as:

• Health
• Education
• Mental Health
• Child Protection
• Housing
• Justice
• Carer Support System. The pressure already experienced suggests reforms aimed at reducing expenditure may unintentionally transfer costs onto other government services like families and communities without adequate whole-of-government modeling demonstrating these effects.

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

Submission 2360

Reliance on Natural Supports and Gendered Impacts

I am also concerned by the increasing reliance on “natural supports” within disability policy. When support is withdrawn, the need does not disappear. The care, coordination and advocacy responsibilities are often transferred to families, particularly women. Women With Disabilities Australia has highlighted the significant gendered risks associated with the proposed reforms. Tightening access to supports and increasing expectations of family care may disproportionately impact women with disability, mothers, female carers and other family members who already carry much of the unpaid labour that sustains Australia’s disability support system.

Support Needs Assessments and Standardisation

I am concerned by increasing reliance on standardised assessments, functional capacity measures and automated decision-making to determine access to supports and funding levels. Many disabilities, including autism, psychosocial disability and chronic health conditions, are complex, fluctuating and highly dependent on context. They cannot always be accurately captured through a single assessment, score or algorithm. The use of algorithms to influence funding decisions is particularly concerning given Australia’s experience with Robodebt. As the Australian Human Rights Commission has stated,

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

Submission 2360

Reducing access to NDIS supports before alternative supports are available, accessible and adequately funded risks increasing long-term harm for individuals and families while simply shifting costs to other parts of the system.

Foundational Supports and “Thriving Kids”

The services must be established, adequately funded, accessible and operationalbefore participants lose access to NDIS supports. Participants should not be excluded from the NDIS on the assumption that alternativesupports will be available in the future. In many communities, including regional areas, these services do not yet exist at the scale required to meet demand. Transitioningothers out of the NDIS before replacement supports are demonstrably available risksletting children without assistance they need through my work in paediatric allied health.I regularly see families waiting months for assessments therapy specialist service.Workforce shortages capacity constraints already limit access for manychildren Any assumptionsupports immediately absorb additional demands supportedby clear evidence sufficient workforce fundingservice capacities place I am also concerned about proposals may extend reassessment decision makingtimeframes days significant developmental period Delay decisions leave childrenfamilies appropriate support critical periods development learning participation ## Community ParticipationI concern by proposal reduce fund community accessparticipation is optional extra fundamental inclusion independence wellbeing objectivesNDIS cannot returnsystem where people disability exclude becausesupports required participate no longeravailable response poor practice improved quality accountability reduced opportunitiespeople withdisability participat theircommunities Schedule 1 Part Permanence Criteria Concerned proposed amendments relating permanence requirement allappropriate treatment explored before accessing NDIs can establish

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

Submission 2360

Many neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism, are lifelong conditions, even where support needs and functional capacity fluctuate over time. Families should not to repeatedly require families prove permanence already clinically recognised as enduring. I am also concerned some children denied access based additional treatments theoretically exist, despite financially inaccessible unavailable regional communities subject excessive waitlists otherwise beyond practical reach.

Reassessments Children’s Development I’m concerned proposed restrictions participant requested reassessment extension decision making timeframe from days.

Children development dynamic predictable changes communication behaviour involvement school engagement family circumstances occur rapidly key developmental educational transitions. families report difficulty navigating reassessment processes further restricting access extending decision-making risk leaving plans no longer reflect needs placing pressure on families schools clinicians manage increasing challenges without adequate support.

Ministerial Powers Review Rights Concern about expansion ministerial powers reliance rules administrative determine matters directly affect supports concern bill broad delegated allows significant aspects scheme determined future rather than primary legislation means Parliament asked approve powers public fully understand how those may ultimately be exercised right seek independent review fundamental safeguard within NDIS removal weakening of rights risks undermining fairness transparency accountability scheme people disability must retain ability challenge decisions that directly their lives particularly where relate to eligibility funding participation independence health safety wellbeing.

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

Submission 2360

Workforce and Provider Sustainability

The success of any reform depends on the workforce available to deliver it. Ongoing uncertainty, increasing administrative burden, funding constraints and reduced provider viability risk driving experienced clinicians out of the disability sector. Reforms should be assessed not only for their impact on participants but also for their impact on workforce capacity, provider sustainability, access to services particularly in regional communities.

Transparency and the Future Direction of Reform

I am concerned about reports regarding Integrated Care Commissioning Initiative trials recommendations contained within Productivity Commission’s interim report Delivering Quality More Efficiently As someone who remembers why NDIS was created I’m worried move away from individualised funding participant choice control toward providers controlled or block-funded models Urgue Committee seek clarity Government current future reforms align principles Choice Control Recommendations Disability Royal Commission Additional Concerns Regarding The Bill Amconcerned provisions may allow plans suspended revoked where participants deemed contactable Many disabled people face barriers related communication mental health housing instability trauma executive functioning periods crisis Loss support due difficulties engaging with admin processes disproportionately affect those already most vulnerable Repeal section risks weakening participant-directed Individualised planning principles central since inception Also concern extensive use delegated legislation transitional rule-making powers bill Significant aspects eligibility assessment process Participant obligations Support arrangements intended determined through rules rather than primary legislation makes difficult Participants families Providers Parliament itself fully understand practical impact before enacted Recommendations 1 Publish whole-of-government modelling Impact Reduced NDIS expenditure across Health Education Housing Child Protection Mental Health Justice Family Violence Carer Support Welfare systems

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

Submission 2360

• Ensure no participant loses access to supports until equivalent foundational
  • supports operational, funded\and accessible.
• Require independent review,* public validation & ongoing monitoring* of support needs assessment tools including meaningful participation from disability-led organisations &people w/ lived experience incl ANPA WWDA VALID PWDA Inclusion Australia Particular attention should be given ensuring supports do not disadvantage people neurodevelopmental psychosocial chronic fluctuating invisible otherwise complex disabilities.
• Require comprehensive gender impact assessmnt reform.

Strengthen parliamentary oversight future rules affecting eligibility assessments funded supports participants rights.

Publicly report impacts regional rural communities.

Measure reforms success through participatin independenc wellbeing quality-of-life outcomes expenditure reduction.

publish anticipated savings alongside projected costs shifted other systems.

Ensure children young can timely reassessments when developmental educational family circumstances change.

Pub clarify long-term direction of disabiliy reform commissioning models pooled funding approaches automated planning tools any proposed lifetime cost modelling.

Retain meaningfull right indepntdnt revw appeal decisions affectin eligibilit, suppts budgets.

Ens permanence criteria all appropriate treatment requirements recognise lifelong neurodevlpmtal disbilities flctuatng disbilities reginal shortages barriers service access.

Ensignificant changes effectieligibility,supp needs assmstms participant obligations fundsupps partcipant rght remain subj robust parlmtary scrunity key rule frameworks publicly released implementation Conclusion: The stakes these reformat extraordinarily high. For disabled peopl their families acces support determine whether person participates education remains employed avoids crisis maintains health safety able live dignity independence Changes magnitude proceed clear

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

Submission 2360 evidence, robust safeguards and transparent scrutiny because the consequences ofgetting them wrong will be borne by disabled people and their families. The Bill may reduce supports before replacement systems are fully operational,narrowaccess before key rules and assessment frameworks have been publiclyscrutinised,increase reliance on mainstream systems that are already underconsiderablestrain,and shift costs onto families,carers,health services,education systemsandstate-fundedsupports.Italso hasthepotentialtoreducetransparencyandaccountabilityatataime whentrust andaconfidenceinthereformprocessareessential.TheNDISrequiresongoingreformandrhetorship.However,reforms hould maketheSchemefairerafetmoretransparentandreponsivetothelivedexperienceofdisabledpeople.Thethemasureothesefehorswillnotbewhatsavesbutwhethertheystrengthenowweakentherights,dignityparticipation odisabledpeop.