National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3044
Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
I am the parent and carer of three children with disability who rely on the NDIS in different ways and at different stages of life. I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes contained in this Bill and the uncertainty they create for people with disability and their families.
My eldest child, , is 20 years old and lives in Specialist Disability Accommodation and receives 24-hour support. requires this level of support to live safely and participate in her community. Any changes that make it more difficult to access supports, review plans, or maintain appropriate funding create significant anxiety for our family. The consequences of inadequate supports for would be immediate and serious.
Last year, we experienced those consequences firsthand. was not funded by the NDIS to the level of support she required. As a result, she was left unsupervised in a hospital waiting room. During that time, she was approached by a member of the public who befriended her and subsequently assaulted her. This was a traumatic experience for and our family. It is also a clear example of what can happen when supports are reduced below what is actually needed. Discussions about funding reductions can seem abstract on paper, but for people with disability the consequences can be very real. Adequate support is not a luxury; it is often what keeps people safe.
My son, , is 18 and currently navigating adulthood. Like many young adults with disability, he is still learning how to manage his supports and advocate for himself. Although he has assessed needs, he is not currently accessing all of the services available to him. I am concerned that reforms focused on reducing costs may disadvantage people like , who may need supports at different times throughout their lives as circumstances change.
My youngest child, , is 8 years old and receives physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. These supports are not simply services; they are an investment in his future. They help him build skills, increase independence, participate in everyday life and develop the capacity to require less support in adulthood.
The support my youngest son receives through physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy is designed to build his skills and reduce his future reliance on supports. Cutting or limiting these services does not save money in the long term—it risks increasing future support needs. Early intervention and capacity-building supports help children learn, grow and become as independent as possible. It seems counterproductive to reduce investment in supports that are specifically intended to improve long-term outcomes and reduce future reliance on services.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3044
As a parent and carer, I am struggling to understand why people with disability appear to be bearing the burden of cost-saving measures. The message these changes send to families like mine is that disability supports are being treated as an expense to be reduced rather than an investment in people’s lives, independence and participation. It feels unfair that people with disability are being asked to prove and re-prove their need for support, while living with challenges they did not choose. My children did not choose to be disabled, and they should not be disadvantaged because they require support to participate in society.
I am also concerned about the proposed changes relating to disability “permanence” and access to supports. Disability and support needs are complex. Families should not be placed in a position where they must continually justify their circumstances or pursue treatments that may be inaccessible, inappropriate or unrealistic before receiving help.
As a parent and carer, one of the most difficult aspects of these reforms is the uncertainty. Families already manage significant responsibilities, including care, advocacy, administration, appointments and planning for the future. When major changes are proposed without clear explanations about how they will affect participants, it creates additional stress and anxiety.
The NDIS has been life-changing for my children. Each of them uses the scheme differently, reflecting the fact that disability is not one-size-fits-all.
When considering this Bill, I ask the Committee to remember that behind every budget measure, assessment, review and support package is a real person. For my daughter , insufficient support contributed to circumstances that left her vulnerable to harm. For my son , support provides the foundation to transition successfully into adulthood. For my son , therapy helps build the skills and independence that may reduce his need for support in the future. These are not theoretical issues for our family—they affect our children’s safety, wellbeing and future opportunities every day.
I urge the Committee to carefully consider the impact these changes may have on children, young adults, people requiring high levels of support, and the families who care for them. Any reforms to the NDIS should prioritise certainty, access to appropriate supports, early intervention, safety, and the long-term wellbeing of people with disability and their carers.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,