Impact of funding cuts on social participation and wellbeing (Family or carer experience)

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

Submission 2508

I have serious concerns about the NDIS Future Generations Bill and its impact on people with disabilities. I have seen first-hand the way the NDIS is used by people within our community in regional NSW.

Two of my closest friends are mothers to adult children with significant and lifelong disabilities. is mother to

who is 21 and has a rare condition, and          is mother to   who is 26 and has Down syndrome. Both

and have a combination of intellectual and physical disabilities.

Despite these challenges, both    and     live full, busy and interesting lives with the support of current NDIS

funding. Both operate micro-businesses:     enjoys crafting and creates bespoke greeting cards, while     sells

zucchini slice through his micro-business. They both enjoy building their skills, undertaking training, working in the community and hanging out with their friends. While they’re quite different people, both and are very social people and I love seeing their big smiles and chatting with them when we catch up, either by design or if I come across them in the street. Below is a photo of and I at the gym (with our trainer in the background).

Section 34A - I am very concerned about the proposed 50% cut to social and community participation funding from

October 2026.  I can see that without the funds for    and    to participate in the community as they currently do,

their lives will be diminished. They will spend more time at home, which means they will be bored, isolated and

lonely. Both    and     have significant obesity issues and this will only increase with too much time at home on

their hands.

I’ve also seen the impact that having children with disability has had on my friends and the way the NDIS has eased some of the pressure on them and improved the family dynamic. Without this funding, their parents will return to the role of unpaid support workers, keeping their adult children occupied and safe. Problems quickly escalate as boredom turns to frustration, anger and at times lashing out, impacting the mental health of everyone in the family.

Section 33(2EA) - I am also very concerned about the Minister’s new power to cut funding without appeal and automated decisions and algorithms with no opportunity for individual appeal. Relying on AI to make decisions and cutting funding without the opportunity of appeal is unfair and ineffective.

Please do not support any blanket changes, such as 50% cut to social and community participation; the Minister’s power to cut funding without appeal; and automated decisions and algorithms with no individual appeal. Instead, please focus on finding any required cost savings by targeting unethical service providers preying on the most vulnerable in our community.