National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 267
Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the NDIS Amendment Bill / NDIS (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill
To the NDIS Committee,
I am writing as a carer of a child who is a NDIS participant, and also as a friend and family member of other people living with disability, who rely on the NDIS. I appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the proposed reforms and recent budget changes. I understand the importance of ensuring the NDIS remains sustainable for future generations. I also strongly support measures to reduce fraud, improve accountability and strengthen the quality of services provided to participants. However, I am concerned that many participants, carers and families are experiencing significant fear and uncertainty about these proposed changes, particularly when information is difficult to understand and when there is limited accessible consultation available. From my experience, the NDIS is not simply a line item in a budget. It is an extraordinary social support system that has improved the health, wellbeing, independence and long-term outcomes of many Australians living with disability. I believe reform is necessary in any large system, but I also believe it is important that reforms are designed carefully and compassionately, with the lived experiences of participants and carers genuinely considered. Concerns About Reducing Participant Numbers One of my concerns is the public discussion around reducing participant numbers within the NDIS. I worry that this may unintentionally create the impression that participants themselves are responsible for misuse of funds, when in reality many participants and carers are already working incredibly hard to navigate a very complex system appropriately. I believe more clarity is needed around where savings are expected to come from. For example: Are these reductions expected through transitions into aged care? Are they related to improved early intervention pathways for children? Are they connected to better investment in community health, schools and mainstream supports? I believe there are opportunities to strengthen sustainability through earlier intervention and stronger mainstream services. For example: increased access to school counsellors, occupational therapy and speech pathology supports in schools, inclusive education programs, and better mental health support for children and young people.
These investments could reduce pressure on the NDIS over time while improving outcomes for children and families.
I am concerned that discussions about reducing participant numbers can oversimplify a very complex issue. Decisions about disability support cannot be made solely from a financial or
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 267
spreadsheet perspective. The growth of the NDIS may also reflect a level of unmet disability and mental health need within the community that was previously unsupported or hidden. Rather than focusing primarily on reducing access, I believe stronger regulation, clearer frameworks, better provider oversight and more efficient administration are likely to achieve more sustainable long-term savings while still protecting participants and families.
Concerns About Provider Fees and Billing Practices While there are many excellent providers who genuinely care about participants, I have also experienced situations where fees and billing expectations felt excessive and difficult to justify. For example, I have had to argue with providers regarding expectations that my child attend services for 52 weeks per year and sign long-term service agreements, when our family could realistically only manage therapy during school terms. I have also questioned situations where providers charge for large amounts of preparation time and administrative work in addition to therapy sessions. Many families do not feel comfortable challenging these practices, particularly when they fear losing access to services. I would strongly support: clearer fee guidelines, stronger auditing and compliance systems, investigation of unreasonable billing practices, and anonymous ways for participants and carers to report concerns safely. I believe many cost savings within the NDIS could come from stronger oversight of provider practices, transport costs and administrative inefficiencies, rather than reducing supports for participants. Transport Supports and Accessibility Safe transport is another important issue that deserves careful consideration. Many participants require transport with someone they know and trust in order to attend appointments, activities and community programs safely. Standard taxis or rideshare services are not always appropriate or safe depending on a participant’s disability or support needs. At the same time, I believe there needs to be fair and transparent pricing in this area. Families are concerned about situations where participants may effectively be charged a full support worker rate for extended transport periods that are not proportionate to the support being provided. I believe there is room for the government to explore more affordable, safe and participant- focused transport models that protect both participants and support workers. Access to Age-Appropriate Psychological Care I would also like to emphasise the importance of consistent, age-appropriate psychological support for children and young people living with disability. In my experience, crisis-based systems alone are not enough. While crisis lines and emergency support have an important role, they cannot replace the long-term impact of consistent therapeutic relationships, particularly for children and adolescents.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 267
Young people require stable, trusted professionals who understand their history, communication style, emotional needs and family circumstances over time. Early and ongoing psychological support can improve emotional regulation, school engagement, relationships, resilience and long-term mental health outcomes. I strongly believe that greater investment in accessible psychological care, school-based supports and early intervention services would not only improve quality of life for participants and families, but also reduce pressure on crisis services, hospitals and other parts of the health system in the future. The Hidden Unpaid Labour of Carers One of the most important issues I would like the Committee to understand is the enormous amount of unpaid labour already being carried by families and carers. Over several years of NDIS involvement, I have spent countless unpaid hours: coordinating appointments, managing schedules, communicating with schools and providers, attending specialist and paediatric appointments, reading reports, organising therapies, transporting my child to services, and ensuring supports are implemented correctly. Many carers are balancing this alongside employment, financial pressure and other family responsibilities. I also know ageing parents who provide around-the-clock care for adult children with disability, often at significant personal and financial sacrifice. Many families are already stretched beyond capacity. I am concerned that reforms which reduce flexibility or increase administrative burden could unintentionally place even greater pressure on unpaid carers. Concerns About Changes to Rollover Funding and Reassessments I am also concerned about proposed changes to rollover funding and reassessments. Our family has experienced long periods where providers left practices or where services had extensive waitlists. During these periods, rollover funding allowed us to eventually reconnect with appropriate supports once providers became available again. Without that flexibility, many participants may permanently lose access to essential therapies simply because suitable providers were unavailable at the time. I am also concerned about increasing reassessments and redefining support needs. In my experience, people do not access the NDIS without already undergoing years of assessments, specialist appointments and documentation requirements. Additional reassessment processes may create significant stress and cost for families while providing limited overall savings. Supporting the Disability Workforce I would also encourage the government to consider the stability and sustainability of the disability support workforce itself.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 267
Many support workers are employed casually or through insecure arrangements despite performing highly skilled and emotionally demanding work. Retaining good workers is essential for participant safety, trust and continuity of care. I would welcome: improved workforce stability, better access to specialised training, clearer career pathways, and stronger protections for workers’ wellbeing and employment conditions. Investing in a skilled and stable workforce benefits both participants and the long- term sustainability of the NDIS. Communication and Accessibility Finally, I ask that the government and the Commission make information about these reforms significantly easier to understand and more accessible for participants and carers. Many people affected by these changes may not have the capacity, confidence or literacy skills to prepare formal written submissions. There should be more accessible ways for people with disability and carers to participate meaningfully in reform discussions. Clear communication, transitional supports and reassurance for participants and families would help reduce unnecessary stress and fear during this period of change. I would also like to acknowledge the importance of services such as the Carer Gateway, which provides counselling and support for carers who may be overwhelmed or distressed by these reforms. Recommendations I respectfully ask the Committee to consider the following recommendations:
- Prioritise fraud prevention, auditing and provider compliance measures before reducing participant supports.
- Introduce clearer regulation around provider fees, billing practices and transport costs.
- Protect flexibility within plans, including rollover funding where provider shortages and waitlists exist.
- Recognise and account for the significant unpaid labour already carried by carers and families.
- Improve communication so proposed reforms are accessible, transparent and easier for participants to understand.
- Expand investment in mainstream supports such as school counselling, occupational therapy, speech pathology and inclusive education programs.
- Develop safe and affordable transport models that meet participants’ needs while ensuring fair pricing.
- Improve workforce stability, training opportunities and employment protections for disability support workers.
- Ensure participants and carers are treated with dignity, compassion and reassurance throughout the reform process.
- Increase access to consistent, age-appropriate psychological supports and early intervention services for children and young people, including school-based mental health supports.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 267
Thank you for considering my submission and for the work being undertaken to improve the NDIS. I hope future reforms can strengthen the system while continuing to protect the wellbeing, dignity and quality of life of the Australians who rely upon it every day. Kind regards,
A carer and family member of NDIS participants