National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3036
Submission regarding proposed changes to the
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
To Whom It May Concern,
Re: Submission regarding proposed changes to the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
I am writing as a sole parent of three children with disabilities who rely on the NDIS in different ways. While I understand the Government has a responsibility to ensure the Scheme remains sustainable, I am deeply concerned that the proposed changes could significantly impact families like mine, who are already stretched beyond our limits.
Being a sole parent is challenging in itself, but raising three children with disabilities is a full-time responsibility that never stops. Every day is spent advocating, attending appointments, managing therapies, communicating with schools and specialists, coordinating supports, and helping my children navigate a world that is not designed for them. I am exhausted, but I continue because my children deserve every opportunity to live fulfilling, independent lives.
My son has Level 3 Autism Spectrum Disorder and requires very substantial support. He also lives with ADHD, epilepsy, significant anxiety, and other complex support needs. Everyday tasks that many families take for granted require careful planning, patience, and specialist support.
When was younger, he was completely non-verbal. He could not speak a single word until he was five years old. Today, at 13 years old, he chats constantly. That transformation did not happen by chance. It happened because of years of therapy, intervention, and support made possible through the NDIS. It is one of the greatest achievements of his life and something our family never takes for granted.
The NDIS has also helped remain engaged in education. Without his support workers and behavioural supports, he simply would not attend school. These supports have allowed him to participate in learning, build relationships, regulate his emotions, and continue developing skills that will help him throughout his life. Removing or reducing these supports would place his education, mental health, and future at serious risk.
My son has also benefited enormously from NDIS supports. With the guidance and encouragement of his support workers, he has been able to gain employment. This is a milestone our family is incredibly proud of. Without that supported guidance, coaching, and assistance, I genuinely do not believe Lucas would have been able to secure or maintain a job. The NDIS has helped him move towards greater independence, contribute to the community, and build confidence in himself. That is exactly what the Scheme was designed to achieve.
These are not examples of dependency—they are examples of success. The NDIS has helped my children achieve things that once seemed impossible. It has given them opportunities many people take for granted and has helped them become more independent, not less.
The NDIS is not a luxury. It does not fund unnecessary extras. It provides the supports that allow my children to participate in everyday life and gives our family the ability to cope. Without these supports, the responsibility does not disappear—it falls entirely onto families like mine, who are already doing everything we possibly can.
I often hear people say that parents should simply do more. I want decision-makers to understand that there comes a point where there is nothing left to give. I am already carrying the emotional, physical, financial, and administrative load of raising my children on my own. I cannot simply work more hours, attend more appointments, provide specialist therapy, be a teacher, behaviour
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3036
therapist, support worker, nurse, advocate, and still be the present mother my children need without help.
Reducing access to therapies, increasing administrative barriers, or making funding harder to obtain will not reduce disability. It will simply shift the burden onto families, schools, hospitals, mental health services, and emergency departments. Early intervention and ongoing support help children build independence, prevent crises, improve long-term outcomes, and ultimately save public money.
I ask the Government to remember that behind every funding package is a real child and a real family. These decisions are not numbers on a spreadsheet—they determine whether children learn to speak, whether they attend school, whether they gain employment, whether parents can continue caring for them, and whether people with disability are given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society.
Please protect funding for Australians with permanent and significant disabilities. Continue investing in early intervention and ongoing supports. Reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and ensure decisions continue to be based on individual needs rather than broad cost-cutting measures.
Most importantly, please listen to families. We are the ones living this reality every single day. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the support our children need to have the same opportunities as every other Australian.
The NDIS has not only changed my children’s lives—it has changed our family’s future. It gave a voice when we feared he may never speak. It has enabled him to attend school and continue building skills for adulthood. It has helped gain employment and experience the pride, confidence, and independence that come with earning his own income. These are the outcomes the NDIS was created to achieve.
Please do not take away the supports that allow families like mine to survive and our children to thrive.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my submission and for listening to the voices of families living with disability.
Yours faithfully,