National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3045
6th July, 2026
Attention Committee Secretary,
As a carer for a young adult with disability, I know firsthand how vital funding for Social and Community Participation is. Without this support, my son simply will not leave the house unless I personally take him somewhere. These supports are not a luxury—they are essential for reducing isolation, maintaining mental wellbeing, building confidence, and helping people with disability participate in their communities.
The proposal to reduce funding for Social and Community Participation is, in my view, a cruel measure that will have significant negative impacts on many people with disability and their families. Instead of cutting these essential supports, the Government should first address areas of unnecessary expenditure within the NDIS.
One area that deserves urgent review is the 7-day Short Notice Cancellation policy in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025–26 (page 26). This policy allows providers to claim payment when participants cancel certain supports with less than seven days’ notice.
This requirement is unrealistic for many NDIS participants. People with disability cannot predict seven days in advance that they will become ill, experience a mental health crisis, or have another circumstance that prevents them from attending a support. Yet providers can still claim payment for the cancelled shift, meaning the participant loses funding without receiving the support.
I believe the NDIS should publish data showing how much is spent each year on Short Notice Cancellation claims. It would be very interesting to see the total cost, as I believe this represents a significant area where savings could be made without reducing essential supports.
The cancellation period should be reduced from seven days back to the standard 48-hour notice period that is commonly used by therapists and other healthcare providers. This would be fairer for participants while still providing providers with reasonable notice.
The support categories currently subject to the 7-day Short Notice Cancellation policy include:
- Daily Personal Activities
- Assistance with Self-Care Activities – Sleepover
- High Intensity Daily Personal Activities
- Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement
- Short Term Accommodation and Assistance
- Medium Term Accommodation
- Capacity Building and Training in Self-Management and Plan Management
- Assistance to Access Community, Social and Recreational Activities
- Group and Centre-Based Activities – Standard
- Group and Centre-Based Activities – High Intensity
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3045
- Specialised Supported Employment
- Psychosocial Recovery Coaches
- Assistance with Accommodation and Tenancy Obligations
- Assistance in Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions and Supports
- Development of Daily Living and Life Skills
- Employment Assistance, including for young people aged 15 to 25
- Other Support Items to Assist Successful Development and Placement in Employment
- Individual Social Skills Development
- Transition Through School and to Further Education
- Assistive Technology Mentors (AT Mentors) Before reducing funding for Social and Community Participation, the Government should focus on improving the efficiency of the scheme by addressing policies such as the 7-day Short Notice Cancellation rule. This would protect participants’ essential supports while reducing unnecessary expenditure within the NDIS.