Submission 2788
Submission: National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the
NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
To the Committee,
I am writing on behalf of Inner West Paediatrics, a paediatric allied health organisation based in Sydney that has been supporting children, young people and families in our local community for more than ten years. We provide Occupational Therapy, Speech
Pathology, Feeding Therapy, Allied Health Assistant services, Key Worker supports,
support work and group programs across Sydney’s Inner West and St George regions.
Services are delivered in clinics, homes, schools, preschools, early childhoodservices, community settings and through telehealth.
We support the need for a sustainable NDIS and recognise that reform is necessary. However, we are deeply concerned about several elements of the proposed Bill and
the likely impact on children, families and communities if these changes areimplemented without sufficient safeguards and without alternative supports being fully established and accessible.
Every day we work with children who have developmental delay, autism,
communication difficulties, feeding challenges, motor difficulties and participationbarriers. Many of these children do not require lifelong support, but they do require the right support at the right time. Early intervention is most effective when concerns are identified early and families can access practical assistance before difficulties become entrenched.
We are concerned that changes to eligibility and access may result in children missing opportunities for support during critical developmental periods. While the intention of Foundational Supports and Thriving Kids is positive, these systems are not yet fully operational. Restricting access before alternative pathways are established risks creating gaps in support for children and families who need help now.
We are also concerned about the proposed reductions to Capacity Building supports and Social and Community Participation supports.
In our experience, Capacity Building supports are not optional extras. They are the
supports that help children develop communication, self-care, social interaction,emotional regulation, motor skills, participation and independence. They are the supports that help families understand their child’s needs and implement strategies in everyday life. They are often the supports that reduce future dependence on more intensive services.
Similarly, Social and Community Participation supports are often the difference
between isolation and inclusion. These supports allow children to participate incommunity activities, develop friendships, build confidence and practise skills in real
Submission 2788
world environments. For many children, meaningful participation is where therapy goals become everyday outcomes.
We are concerned that reducing these supports may create short-term savings while increasing long-term costs. Children who are unable to access support early may require more intensive intervention later and may require increased support over longer periods of time. Families who lose formal supports often experience increased stress, reduced workforce participation and greater reliance on other systems.
We are also concerned about the increasing use of standardised tools, automated processes and broad funding mechanisms to inform decision-making.
Children’s lives do not fit neatly into categories. Development is complex and highly individual. Professional judgement matters. The most accurate understanding of a child’s needs comes from skilled assessment, observation, collaboration with families and consideration of the child’s real-world environments.
We support the use of assessment tools to inform decision-making, but they should not replace qualified clinical judgement. Decisions about support needs should continue to be based on individual circumstances and professional assessment rather than broad rules or automated processes.
The proposed expansion of ministerial powers to reduce or restrict categories of support is also concerning. Supports should be determined by individual need and evidence, not by system-wide reductions applied across groups of participants.
Families need confidence that decisions affecting their lives are transparent,accountable and based on their individual circumstances.
As a provider, we are also concerned about the broader impact on workforce sustainability.
Across Australia, paediatric allied health services are already experiencing significant workforce shortages. Organisations invest heavily in recruitment, supervision, training, professional development and clinical governance. These investments are essential to maintaining safe, high-quality and evidence-based services.
If funding reductions lead to reduced service viability, the impact will extend beyond providers. Children will experience longer waitlists. Families will have fewer options. Experienced clinicians may leave the disability sector. Smaller communities and areas with existing workforce shortages may experience even greater challenges accessing support.
The consequences of these reforms will not only be felt by NDIS participants. They
will be felt by parents, grandparents, siblings, educators, schools and localcommunities. They will be felt by employers when parents reduce work to care for
Submission 2788
children whose supports have been reduced. They will be felt by schools attempting to support children whose developmental needs are no longer adequately addressed.
We ask Parliament to ensure that decisions about support remain grounded in individual need and informed by qualified allied health professionals. We ask that:
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capacity building and community participation supports are protected and recognised as essential investments in long-term outcomes;
• access to support is not narrowed before alternative systems are fully
operational and capable of meeting demand;
- reassessment pathways remain practical and accessible; and
- workforce sustainability and service viability are considered as part of any reform agenda.
Most importantly, we ask that the experiences of children, families and the professionals who support them every day remain central to these discussions and actively involved in decision-making.
The children we support cannot pause their development while systems change. The decisions made through this Bill will shape not only the future of the NDIS, but also the opportunities available to thousands of children and families across Australia.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission.
Warmest Regards,
Virginia Carabez (Speech Pathologist) and Helen Collier (Occupational
Therapist)
Directors
Inner West Paediatrics
Sydney, NSW
www.innerwestpaediatrics.com.au
Info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au
(02) 9560 8905