National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2854
To the Senate inquiry into proposed changes to the NDIS
I am writing to ask you to keep human dignity at the centre of decisions around the NDIS.
My experience with the NDIS comes through seeing the impacts it has had for friends of mine. NDIS supports have allowed for access to community, better quality of life and an ability to participate in economic and civic life. Everyone deserves access to these things, and that access shouldn’t be based on family or financial situation.
NDIS supports mean people get the benefits of community, freedom of movement and in some cases the workforce that they otherwise would not be able to access. As we all experienced during the lockdowns of 2020-21, having these parts of life removed can cause mental health issues and places strain on other systems as we become more isolated from our communities. Supporting people with physical, psychological and social issues early and in the community means those issues can be addressed before they grow worse, lowering strain on our hospital and in-patient psychological systems.
I personally have had a brush with the experience of living with a disability this year. After an injury at work I have been on WorkCover and off work. The injury took away my independence very suddenly. Overnight I could no longer cook or clean for myself, and I could not work. I have been thankful to have access to the WorkCover scheme. It has meant that I can heal and rehabilitate my injury, I have had an income while I’m unable to work, and I have had a great team in my doctor and physio helping me to return to full participation in the workforce. I don’t understand why that same support can’t be extended to everyone who needs it. It makes economic sense - if I’m supported to recover as best I can, I can either return to work or retrain if needed and rejoin the workforce. We should be supporting everyone who needs it in the same way, to help them be a part of our society.
I have found the experience of my injury very scary. Suddenly having to rely on others for basic tasks like cooking and cleaning has left me feeling vulnerable. I’m lucky that I can heal from my injury and have support to do so, but even with this support my mental health has been affected. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be looking down the barrel of having essential services removed.
I’m concerned about the proposed changes to the definition of “permanence”. Bodies are unique and unpredictable, and wellness is never linear. Disabilities that affect someone’s ability to participate in the workforce obviously also affect their income, and not everyone has a financial safety net to fall back on. To expect people who are living on very little, during a cost of living crisis, to be able to try every possible treatment no matter its cost or distance, ignores the realities of the situation for many people. I worry that rather than addressing issues in the system, these changes only widen the cracks for people to fall through in an area where each person’s needs are so unique.
There are economic arguments to be made. “Think tank Per Capita estimated in 2021 that for every dollar spent on the NDIS, $2.25 was returned to the economy.” (ABC, 21/4/26, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-21/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ndis/106566022). But on top of that, there is the issue of basic human dignity, and what we value as a society. We are one of the richest countries on earth. What is the point of that wealth if we cannot care for our most vulnerable?