National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 2392
Submission in Opposition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Re: NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS) Bill 2026
I oppose aspects of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 due to the potential impact on autistic young people with complex support needs.
I am concerned that standardised assessments of functional capacity may fail to recognise the real-world impact of executive functioning impairments, sensory challenges, anxiety, fatigue, and fluctuating capacity. Many autistic young people, particularly those who are highly intelligent, may appear capable on paper while experiencing significant difficulties in education, daily living, emotional regulation, and community participation.
I am also concerned about tighter restrictions on plan reassessments, reduced flexibility in funding, narrower interpretations of support eligibility, and increased reliance on informal supports. Disability needs often change over time, particularly during adolescence, and access to timely reassessment and appropriate supports is essential.
Professional supports cannot be replaced by family carers. Families provide substantial care and advocacy, but they do not have the specialised expertise of allied health professionals. Reducing supports risks transferring responsibility to carers who may already be at capacity. Most importantly, these supports are critical protective factors for vulnerable young people. Reductions in support may contribute to worsening mental health, increased crisis presentations, family burnout, educational disengagement, and reduced long-term independence. Reforms must recognise fluctuating capacity, complex support needs, and the limits of informal care.
I ask the Committee to remove the word “directly” from the Bill and restore the NDIA’s obligation to fund support for the whole person, not just an isolated diagnosis.