National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2934
1 June 2026
Submission - National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill 2026).
I welcome the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill 2026).
Our child is a participant, and as such, our family are carers of a participant who is 0-8 years old. Please see below:
If Capacity Building Supports were reduced, removed or if we didn’t have access in the first place:
I know what it is like to live without NDIS support. For almost 2 years, my family waited for NDIS. Our only support was accessing yearly blocks of up to 10 essential therapies through NSW Health.
If our NDIS budget is exhausted because it doesn’t reflect our child’s needs our family cannot cover the cost of required private therapies. Leaving children in limbo within the NDIS or inadequate supports through Thriving Kids is not only flawed policy, but it also penalises our children by delaying the support they need to live functional, happy lives.
The approach seems obvious and the evidence clear - funding for early intervention therapies can often determine whether a participant achieves independence or becomes a permanent NDIS user.
Functional Capacity and assessment rules:
I understand that the Bill also reaches to add a formal definition of ‘functional capacity’ but haven’t been provided the definition. This is concerning and must not be implemented without development and consultation of a peer-reviewed functional capacity criteria. I seek to understand changes to the definition of permanence.
This Amendment will also allow governments to create standardised assessment tools to determine who can access the Scheme – I recently provided inputs to consultation on the new framework planning and changes to the support needs assessment rules. I don’t understand the
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 2934
new assessment tools being proposed and request greater information prior to amendment. I also encourage NDIA to consider how best to adequately resource and train NDIA delegates ( eg. what is the minimum education and experience requirement for these positions?). A public servant should not be making healthcare recommendations, no matter the scaffolding within new frameworks or rules.
Administrative deficiencies:
Our family waited 12 months for our local area to commence planning under the NDIS Partner delivering the Early Childhood Approach. It was another 6 months before we submitted the access request, largely due to poor technical capabilities, inexperience and existing annual leave requirements for NDIS Partners. Assurance is essential, but so is efficiency. To my knowledge, this Amendment doesn’t address fraud, or underperforming NDIA Partners. Even if out of scope for this inquiry, I urge the NDIA to have greater scrutiny of delegates and representatives in the local area approach.
NDIS or Thriving kids:
Is it possible the ~240,000 people being removed from NDIS is spin? That they are just transitioning from one scheme to another? Whilst likely out of scope for this inquiry, I still don’t understand the scope, budget or specific requirements despite its rollout this year. Schools are overburdened and under resourced as it is. I understand there are benefits to school therapy integration, 1:1 therapy cannot be diluted or undervalued and must be maintained.
I have thoroughly investigated the annual dashboard reports relevant to my family. Within NDIS and any new system, like Thriving Kids, there must be comparable timely reporting so metrics, like participant trends, payments, outcomes and satisfaction can be measured, and government held accountable if children are being disadvantaged through this transition.
Given the NDIS and Thriving Kids are on the Agenda, we are asking the government to take a holistic, flexible, and human-centred approach to this NDIS Amendment and the people who rely on.
Thank you.