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

Attention: Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs

Date: 31/5/2026

Submission

How this affects participants:

• The decisions shape lives without parliamentary debate. The changes could be made before public scrutiny, making it hard for people on NDIS plans to know if rules have changed until affected.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Submission 2364

Recommendation:

Require a “no harm” safeguard ensuring no current participant loses current access to supports unless equivalent supports are in place, independent review rights. befor any exit decision and access unscheduled reassessments preserved.

Unreviewable ministerial power cut funding across all support categories The Minister can reduce funding specified percentage through instrument cannot challenged (Schedule Part).This applies budget categories.Unspent funds plan renewal(Schedule Part).

How this affects participants: Participants’ community participation,capacity building assistive technology could without warning appeal.Participants who save unspent funds high-cost items lose entirely.I accept some areas needs determined individual not just everyone.Determining appropriate funding different categories why we have assessments - read them! Rolling over unnecessary situations.Core support even capacity may need rolled however for high cost equipment takes months before these approved order which ridiculous own needed sooner later loose at rollover fair.Recommendation Require unspent carryover at plan renewal saving high-cost items require independent review rights effect.

Requirement exhaust treatment options eligibility

The issue A person disability will need exhaustion treatment option they be eligible scheme Schedule Part.There also removal whole-of-person assessment replaced single impairment consideration Schedule Part.The note previously acknowledged environmental factors ineligible impairments affect support removed Schedule Part. How this effects people with disability prove their impairment treated before accessing NDIS. Once the scheme,their only assessed against single eligible rather than experience.A person’s circumstances ability to pay where live or whether available treatments government stated moving away diagnosis based eligibility functional capacity.This requirement clearly indicates diagnostic still exist prior function.What is going base its decisions regarding what deemed required?

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Submission 2364

there are no identified medical treatments for autism but therapy can definitely help does doesn’t mean trialled before being able to access core part what NDIS provides. isn’t What about all babies born severe disabilities each year identifying formal diagnosis often takes years - how can deemed untreatable need? What do these families go through before eligible life without NDIS How do essential equipment which is they’re look after kids when also sleep? cost of ‘all reasonable’ significant some means achievable isn’t especially in rural areas I am multiple longterm mental health diagnoses lucky have private cover been trial medications individually combination many extended hospital admissions couldn’t done top level private during these was rTMS and ECT (without successful outcome) aware search clinical trials participated two success yes tried pretty much everything my health background finance achieve this cost getting diagnose report confirm very expensive privately almost inaccessible public system consideration on whatever government decides needed be eligibility lower earning disability support? Only those who afford treatment can access And suddenly more expert available than participants team Not safe individuals readily available services or if there’s waitlists). I concerned that will not longer recognise comorbidities autistic people significantly increased risk anxiety depression suicidal thoughts behaviours PLOS One Volkmar et al. Lai Lancet Psychiatry 2019 If link between disabled recognised supported through NDIS do participants access already because autism receive services through NDIS unable CAHMS states their concerns related therefore covered by NDIS won’t fund psychology should accessing public This harder to access like psychology choose recognising Recommendation: Do proceed with requirement exhaust “appropriate” options safeguarding measures participant harm due side effects complications financial ability pay geographic capacity treatments.

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

Submission 2364

Unvalidated functional capacity assessment tool risks misidentifying need

The issue:

The Bill shifts assessment from whole-of-person consideration to a single eligible impairment (Schedule 1 Part 3). Read together with the eligibility thresholds in Parts 8 and 9, the tool used to conduct functional capacity assessments must be capable of sufficiently identifying whether a person meets the threshold for that single impairment.

• How this affects participants: If the assessment tool does not accurately capture the full extent of a person’s disability, including needs that fluctuate or vary over time, a participant may be found ineligible or have their supports undercounted, with no guarantee the result reflects their actual experience.

Government statement:

The government states the Instrument for Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN) is valid and reliable across all disabilities; however there has been no published research confirming validity reliability standardisation when using it on mental health conditions except Arnold et al.,(2015).

The I-CAN validated only general groups but not psychometrically standardized people diagnosed. Mental Health bodies emphasize episodic fluctuations requiring longitudinal specialist approaches Rosen & Gill.(2012)

Recent studies show individuals frequently report abilities due impaired insight inaccurate self-assessment showing they cannot perform tasks objective shows can’t(Rose Harvey Montero 2025).

Concerns about assessors’ training:

Additionally concerned NDIS intend use assessor’s who do not necessarily hold degree trained in assessing so lacking understanding interplay daily functioning important right questions asked by NDIS comment based diagnosis thus impacts likely to identified if someone severe cPTSD major depression example mobility section will miss fact individual walks without support actually unable go shops access public transport.

• Assessments: The aim single hour video interview get more accurate assessment needs than therapists medical team worked participant.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Submission: Submission-2364

years. We already have thorough functional capacity assessments done by professionals specialising in this consultation participants providing these at each review but NDIS insists don’t always (experience hardly ever read them) more accurate than single hour assessment someone you’ve never met unlikely understand your disability Additionally myself suspect others anxiety provoking when very anxious often lose ability speak Even know doubt could manage dysregulated likely mute If assesser ensure they identified my needs At least current functional capacity assessments shorter meetings and also inputs information Recommendation Do not proceed I-CAN as functionally validated identify all people including episodic or fluctuating culturally appropriate First Peoples title: Supports cut replacement system ready The issue From October government announced funding social civic community participation supports reduced cent daily activities per for all reductions implemented ministerial instrument power Schedule Part Foundational System intended fill gap confirmed implementation date operational How affects participants helps connect with their community build skills maintain independence may be cut anything exists replace leaving carers families greater responsibilities additional support These often help stay visible connected safe Being able access something most take granted without disabilities going local shop ingredients dinner catching public transport see movie even just friends things think about do For many same challenging need preplanned organised workers can’t leave house worker mostly bound Know online delivered new products walk past thing might work end up eating week Many the social civic community participation allow get doctor dentist blood test To go popular movie only covers time activity interact around it important bridge Most concerning those accessing SIL significant chunk of that lets participate meaningfully world Without this funding will spend front TV level in SIL doesn’t one on explore interests participant Would anyone accept repeatedly hours day choice yet funding left no other option Within especially medication used fit times where people need lower cost hours means living SIL regularly medicated have them bed 6pm

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment

Submission 2364

often until 8am the next day. I don’t know any non-disabled adults who would accept being put to bed before 6pm every day. There are no services in place to replace these support workers (oh many participants will need a support worker to facilitate access to group activities). Humans are social beings; isolation leads to mental health concerns placing additional pressure on our already stretched health system. Quality of life comes into question if individualised supports are reduced.

capacity building is important for me – regular psychology helps work around my disability staying out hospital over past years had ten admissions even just Medicare portion stays usually month huge far larger cost accessing therapy helped remain home last two children both had their capacities supported reduced sons first plan included good funding but he was deep burnout not effectively accessed so rather than forcing him wasting funds chose one during this time at his review massive reduction as hadn’t used it now position benefit from that support available instead skills continue lag further behind peers recommendation: Require reductions community participation capacity building takes effect Foundational Supports fully operational adequately funded demonstrably meet needs those lose NDIS.