National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 28
To whom it may concern,
I am writing from the perspective of a Support Coordinator working directly with NDIS participants and their families in a regional service environment. I support the intent of early intervention, foundational supports, and better access to practical help for children and families. However, I am concerned that families affected by current and proposed NDIS changes must not experience a gap in support while new systems are still being designed, funded, staffed, and locally implemented.
In my role, I see firsthand that families do not only need a service name or a referral pathway. They need someone who understands their child’s functional needs, family circumstances, current providers, safety risks, school or childcare context, and the practical barriers that affect whether support can actually be accessed. This is especially important in regional and remote areas, where services may be limited, waitlists are long, transport is difficult, and families often carry significant stress before they ask for help.
For children and families who may move from an NDIS pathway into Thriving Kids, Foundational Supports, or state-based services, the transition must be carefully managed. Current supports should not stop before an alternative support pathway is available and working. Families need clear information, warm handover, coordinated documentation, and a trusted contact person who can help them understand what is changing and what support will continue.
From a Support Coordinator’s point of view, the key issue is not simply whether a child fits within the NDIS or another service system. The key issue is whether the child and family can continue to access the right support at the right time, without losing progress, confidence, safety, or stability.
I respectfully recommend that affected families are provided with:
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Continuity of support until the new pathway is confirmed and operating.
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A warm handover, not simply a referral or information sheet.
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Clear written transition plans that include the child’s current supports, functional needs, family risks, providers, school or early childhood contacts, and essential support requirements.
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Local coordination capacity, especially in regional areas where service access is already limited.
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Practical family guidance, including help to understand changes, gather evidence, connect with services, and raise concerns if support needs are not being met.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 28
- Recognition of family stress, because changes to disability support systems create anxiety, especially when parents fear their child may lose help before a replacement pathway is ready.
In my experience, the families most affected by system change are often the families least able to navigate complex service systems alone. A child may be described as having “low to moderate” support needs, but the family environment may still involve significant pressure, including financial stress, carer fatigue, behavioural support needs, school concerns, transport barriers, limited informal support, or difficulty accessing allied health services.
For this reason, I strongly support a transition model that protects families from falling between systems. The best approach would be a coordinated, locally embedded model where families are helped to understand their pathway, gather evidence, maintain essential supports, and connect with the right services before any NDIS support is reduced or withdrawn.
A successful transition should feel like this to families:
“Your current support does not stop today. We are preparing early because the disability support system is changing, and we want your family to have a clear pathway before those changes arrive.”
This approach reduces fear, protects children’s progress, and gives families confidence that reform is not simply a cost-saving exercise, but a genuine attempt to build a better support system around children, carers, and communities.
I respectfully ask decision-makers to ensure that no child or family is left without practical support during the transition from NDIS to Thriving Kids, Foundational Supports, or state-based services.
Kind regards,