Submission 2814
1 June 2026
Submission to the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Attention: Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
Please do not publish my name and contact details.
Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission to the Senate Committee Community Affairs about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
I am writing as the parent, caregiver of a young adult with neurodevelopmental disabilities who is falling through the cracks. My son was recently deemed ineligible for the NDIS recently and we are considering our options.
Based on our lived experience, I am deeply concerned about the harm this Amendment Bill will cause if it passes Parliament. I understand and agree the need for changes to make the NDIS more sustainable and equitable. But this Bill is too far-reaching to pass as it stands. I believe the Bill must be withdrawn or timeline extended for further scrutiny and amendments before it proceeds.
Brief Background
My son is at a key transition stage of his life exploring post school options for transition to training, work and independence. We have returned to Australia after living and working overseas. As we could not find an appropriate supported school placement, he was homeschooled. Although he has had access to the NDIS for less than 2 years, it was a much-needed lifeline. We were able to find a structured program that has allowed him to build few friendships and job readiness skills in a small group setting. We have also used the funding to build age appropriate life skills through therapeutic support.
My son’s eligibility was reassessed earlier this year and we were give 28 days’ time to exit the NDIS and stop the use of plan funding. It left us with very little time to make alternate arrangements for supports especially commitments to programs have been made based on allocated funding. The full responsibility is back to us as caregivers/parents and puts an enormous financial, psychological and physical load on us
My son is falling through the cracks because
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His complex support needs are because of the interaction of his multiple neurodevelopmental disabilities.
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This adds another layer of complexity and struggle to the evidentiary and bureaucratic barriers in different settings including the NDIS
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Foundational supports outside the NDIS have not yet been established especially targeted supports for young adults to transition to training, work and independence.
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Submission 2814
Concerns about the Bill
The Bill is being rushed through with a focus on cost cutting. The amendments proposed seem to exacerbate the existing pain points especially for people with disabilities and their families.
The approximately 100 pages of the Bill details to eligibility, funding and ways to close loopholes there is very little detail on the Foundational supports for people who cannot access the scheme or are being increasingly deemed ineligible.
Many individuals, organisations including advocacy organisations and members of Parliament have proposed detailed and specific amendments. Is there enough time for these submissions to be scrutinised and the necessary amendments to be made.
As such, persons with disability and families are asked to provide so many details of their life multiple times – with allied health, government agencies, service providers and many others. Sensitive information is shared casually many times and through emails without regard to privacy and security. Some of the changes proposed in the Bill such as providing reasons for not undertaking treatment due to family finances and fulfillment of parental obligations will require sharing of more intrusive personal information. This may also negatively impact relationships with spouse, partners, immediate and extended family.
Specific areas of concern
Area Concern
Access to the NDIS 1. Definition of permanence - The condition to access of undertaking all appropriate treatment requires a lot more scrutiny. The criteria that apply to physical disabilities and medical conditions will not be applicable to neurodevelopmental and other hidden disabilities. Who determines how much treatment is enough?
- Functional capacity test – Requires more consultation and details as standardised tests at a point in time will not provide the full picture. Fairness and use of commonsense must be ensured. Funding and supports Social and community funds must not be cut across the board. This is a lifeline and allows people with disability to have an ordinary life like the rest of society.
Reliance and proof of informal supports will have unintended consequences and requires more scrutiny. Planning and Plan management Participants need the flexibility to change plans in a timely way when life circumstances change. The proposed rules have to flexible to allow this.
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Submission 2814
Conclusion:
Most individuals and families do not have the time, support staff and resources to understand the long bill in such a short span of time. So not all of us are in a position to suggest amendments or propose meaningful changes.
Many people with disabilities like my son are already falling through the cracks because of the increase in number of eligibility reassessments. Some of the stricter criteria are already being used subjectively.
My main request to the Senate Committee while scrutinising the bill and reading the submissions is to consider the consequences of these changes and cost cuts – support needs have not gone away. Without Foundational supports across all age categories and targeted supports for transition stages, there will be an increasing number of people like my son who fall through the cracks.
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