Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Dear Committee Members,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to the Senate Community Affairs
Legislation Committee regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
(Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
My name is . I am an NDIS participant, a full-time Early Intervention teacher employed by the NSW Department of Education, and I work every day with children aged three to five years with disability and developmental delay and their families. I also live with a severe physical disability and my functional capacity has changed significantly over the past year. Following recent medical complications, I am now predominantly reliant on a wheelchair for mobility and am no longer able to drive. My condition is fluctuating, meaning my support needs can change rapidly and require timely, individualised responses.
I also live in regional New South Wales where accessible public transport is extremely limited. As both an NDIS participant and an early intervention professional, I have a unique perspective on the proposed amendments. While I recognise the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS, I am concerned that several provisions of the Bill may unintentionally reduce flexibility, increase administrative delays and disproportionately disadvantage participants with fluctuating disabilities, those living in regional Australia, and young children requiring early intervention.
- Timely Access to Home Modifications and Assistive Technology I have experienced lengthy delays in obtaining essential home modifications, waiting approximately six months for approval of basic safety modifications including bathroom grab rails and an entrance ramp. These supports were essential for safely accessing and using my home.
My experience highlights the importance of timely decision-making within the NDIS. I am concerned that the Bill’s expanded consideration of value-for-money assessments for assistive technology and home modifications may introduce additional administrative processes without corresponding legislative timeframes for decision-making.
For participants whose mobility changes suddenly, delays in receiving essential equipment or home modifications can increase the risk of injury, hospital admission and loss of independence. I encourage the Committee to consider whether the Bill should include stronger safeguards to ensure timely assessment and approval of essential assistive technology and home modifications.
- Protecting Goal-Based Supports That Maintain Independence The Bill proposes changes to the framework for determining funded supports, including revised definitions of NDIS supports and increased Ministerial rule-making powers.
My NDIS supports currently enable me to continue participating in my community, maintain my employment and preserve my physical function. Support workers assist me with grocery shopping, attending appointments and accessing my local gym, where I undertake strength training necessary to safely transfer between my wheelchair, bed, vehicle and other environments.
These supports are not recreational. They are preventative measures that maintain my functional capacity, reduce the likelihood of injury and hospitalisation, and enable me to remain employed and living independently.
I am concerned that if future rules narrow the interpretation of funded supports or place greater emphasis on what constitutes an ordinary living expense, participants may lose access to supports that directly prevent functional decline and reduce future costs to the health and disability systems.
- Recognising Regional Australia One of the core objectives of the NDIS is to support economic and community participation.
Living in regional New South Wales presents challenges that differ significantly from those experienced in metropolitan areas. There is little or no accessible public transport linking my home and workplace, meaning my ability to continue working depends upon an interconnected combination of transport supports, assistive technology and personal assistance.
I am concerned that greater use of standardised planning approaches or funding assumptions may not adequately reflect regional service shortages and transport barriers. Funding decisions should continue to recognise the practical realities faced by participants living outside metropolitan centres.
- Preserving Early Childhood Early Intervention In my professional role as an Early Intervention teacher, I work with preschool-aged children during the most important developmental period of their lives.
The Bill includes provisions that support greater administrative consistency and future assessment processes. While consistency is important, I encourage the Committee to ensure that these processes continue to allow appropriate clinical judgement and individual assessment, particularly for young children whose developmental needs can change rapidly.
Evidence consistently demonstrates that timely early intervention improves school readiness, increases independence and reduces future reliance on disability, education and health services. Delays in accessing early intervention may ultimately increase long-term costs rather than reduce them.
Participants with Fluctuating Disabilities
Although the Bill seeks to improve consistency and sustainability, I am concerned that participants whose conditions fluctuate may be disadvantaged if planning and funding arrangements cannot respond quickly to significant changes in functional capacity.
My own circumstances changed dramatically within a short period following a deterioration in my health. During that time, I required rapid access to additional mobility supports, home modifications and transport assistance. The legislation should continue to allow sufficient
flexibility for plans to be reviewed promptly when participants experience substantial changes in their disability or health.
Recommendations
I respectfully recommend that the Committee consider the following amendments to the Bill:
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Introduce legislated service standards and maximum decision timeframes for essential assistive technology and home modifications.
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Amend the Bill to require planners to consider regional transport availability and local service accessibility when determining reasonable and necessary supports.
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Ensure that supports which maintain functional capacity, employment and community participation continue to be recognised as funded supports and are not excluded solely because they may also resemble ordinary living costs.
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Include explicit recognition of participants with fluctuating or degenerative conditions so that plans can be reviewed and adjusted promptly when functional capacity changes significantly.
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Ensure that future assessment processes preserve opportunities for professional clinical judgement and individualised planning, particularly for young children accessing early intervention.
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Delay implementation of any provisions that rely upon foundational supports until those services are consistently available and accessible throughout regional Australia.
Conclusion
The NDIS has enabled me to remain employed, continue contributing to my community and support young children with disability during the most important years of their development.
I respectfully ask the Committee to recommend amendments to the Bill that preserve the principles of choice and control, support workforce participation, recognise the needs of people with fluctuating disabilities and ensure participants living in regional Australia are not disadvantaged by reforms intended to improve the long-term sustainability of the Scheme.
The NDIS works best when it remains responsive to individual circumstances rather than applying rigid administrative processes to highly diverse lives. By ensuring the legislation maintains sufficient flexibility while improving sustainability, Parliament can strengthen the Scheme for both current and future generations of Australians with disability.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,