Regional access barriers to therapy and specialist services (Provider advocacy) | External submission

Submission 302

From: Sent: Wednesday, 20 May 2026 20:51 To:

Subject: Submission Regarding Proposed Changes to the NDIS Bill

To whom it may concern,

My name is Haylee Pitts and I am the Director of Southern End Support, a regional disability support provider based in Albany, Western Australia.

I have worked in the disability sector for approximately eight years and established Southern End Support with the goal of filling gaps in care within our regional community. Since beginning as a sole support worker with one participant, our organisation has grown significantly and now supports a diverse range of participants with varying and complex support needs.

As a frontline provider, I am deeply concerned about the potential impacts the proposed NDIS legislative changes may have on participants, families, and regional providers. While I understand the importance of sustainability and accountability within the NDIS, I believe several proposed changes risk creating additional barriers for vulnerable people who already face significant challenges accessing appropriate support.

The Importance of Considering a Person’s Environment

One of the key concerns is the apparent reduction in consideration of a participant’s personal and environmental circumstances.

Disability support cannot be approached through a one-size-fits-all model. A participant’s support needs are heavily influenced by factors such as:

geographical location
housing availability
family and informal supports
access to transport
access to allied health services
community inclusion opportunities In regional areas such as Albany, these barriers are amplified. Participants often experience lengthy waitlists for therapy and specialist services, reduced transport options, workforce shortages, and limited alternative supports.

Submission 302

Without considering environmental factors, participants in regional communities risk being disadvantaged compared to those living in metropolitan areas.

I strongly encourage the committee to ensure holistic assessments remain central to the NDIS access and planning process.

Concerns Regarding “Primary Disability” Limitations

Many participants we support live with multiple disabilities or co-occurring conditions that interact and compound one another.

For example, a participant may simultaneously experience:

autism
intellectual disability
psychosocial disability
trauma-related challenges
physical health conditions Attempting to separate these into one “primary disability” does not reflect the reality of participants’ daily lives and support needs.

There is significant concern that limiting supports to a single approved disability could result in:

reduced funding
reduced flexibility
gaps in care
increased participant distress
increased carer burnout
higher long-term costs due to crisis escalation The NDIS should continue recognising the complexity of disability and the interconnected nature of many conditions.

Requirement to Exhaust Treatments Before Accessing the NDIS

The proposal requiring participants to attempt all available treatments before accessing the NDIS raises serious concerns, particularly within regional communities.

In practice:

many therapies are unavailable locally
waitlists can extend for months or years
private therapy costs are unaffordable for many families
some participants deteriorate significantly while waiting for intervention Delaying access to supports until every possible treatment pathway has been explored risks leaving vulnerable individuals without essential assistance during critical periods of their lives.

Early intervention and timely support often prevent deterioration, family breakdown, mental health decline, hospital admissions, and homelessness.

The committee should consider the real-world barriers regional Australians face when accessing healthcare and therapeutic supports.

Submission 302

Extended Processing Timeframes

The proposed increase in application processing timeframes from 21 days to 90 days is another significant concern.

For many participants and families, seeking NDIS access occurs during periods of crisis, instability, or urgent need. Delays of this length may:

place additional strain on families and carers
increase risk of participant deterioration
increase pressure on hospitals and emergency systems
delay critical early intervention supports While administrative pressures are understood, extended delays may ultimately create greater long term social and economic costs.

Recommendations

I respectfully recommend the committee consider:

Maintaining holistic participant assessments that include environmental and regional

factors.

Ensuring participants with multiple disabilities can access supports reflecting their full

needs.

Avoiding mandatory exhaustion of all treatment options prior to NDIS access.

Recognising the unique barriers faced by regional Australians.

Maintaining timely access decision timeframes wherever possible.

Consulting further with frontline providers, participants, families, and regional

communities before implementing major changes.

Conclusion

The NDIS has changed the lives of many Australians by providing independence, dignity, and opportunities that previously did not exist.

As a regional provider working directly alongside participants and families every day, I urge the committee to carefully consider the practical impacts these proposed changes may have on vulnerable people, particularly those living in regional and rural communities.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission and for considering the experiences of frontline providers and the communities we support.

Thank you & Kind Regards,

Submission 302

Haylee Pitts

ing IY rector

fJ Svl 2, 15 Peel~ Ploco, Alba“Y WA 6330