National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3198
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future
Generations) Bill 2026
NDIS participant June 2026
Executive Summary
This submission supports the objective of securing the long-term sustainability of the NDIS for future generations. It argues that sustainability will be strengthened by improving the quality, consistency and transparency of decision-making, reducing avoidable administrative rework, and ensuring participants remain genuine partners in planning and reassessment processes.
Legislative Context
This submission focuses on aspects of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 relating to participant planning, decision-making processes, evidence requirements, support determination, review pathways and long-term scheme sustainability. While informed by lived experience, the submission is directed to the operation and implementation of the legislative reforms.
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Overview The sustainability of the NDIS will depend on improving decision-making quality, participant engagement and system efficiency while preserving individualisation, choice and control. Significant savings can be achieved through correct first-instance decisions rather than through repeated reviews, reassessments and dispute processes.
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Making the Right Decisions the First Time As legislative reforms clarify eligibility and funded supports, implementation arrangements should promote consistent interpretation of evidence and reduce avoidable review activity. Parliament should encourage quality assurance, multidisciplinary review for complex matters and stronger upfront consideration of participant evidence.
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Genuine Participant Partnership in Planning Legislative reforms should preserve participant-directed planning principles. Participants should have meaningful opportunities to discuss concerns, respond to evidence and understand proposed changes before significant decisions are finalised.
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Reform of Allied Health Evidence Requirements Implementation of the reforms should include transparent evidence expectations. Clear guidance, templates and minimum requirements would improve consistency, reduce unnecessary expenditure on reports and support fairer decision-making.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 3198
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Reducing Administrative Burden and System Friction The Bill should be implemented in a manner that reduces duplication, improves coordination and minimises repeated requests for information already provided by participants and clinicians.
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Embedding Supported Decision-Making Supported decision-making should remain a central feature of implementation. Participants should be assisted to understand options and contribute meaningfully to decisions affecting their lives.
Recommendations to Parliament
Ensure legislative changes preserve participant-directed planning principles. Require clear public guidance before new support eligibility and funding rules commence. Ensure review and reconsideration pathways remain accessible and transparent. Require transparent evidence standards and guidance materials. Monitor administrative impacts of implementation to identify opportunities to reduce avoidable costs and rework.
Illustration of System-Level Issues
My recent experience of reassessment demonstrates how unclear evidence expectations and limited participant engagement can increase administrative effort, additional evidence gathering, review activity and delays. The purpose of this example is not to revisit any individual decision, but to illustrate systemic issues relevant to implementation of the Bill and the objective of long-term scheme sustainability.
Sustainability Through Better System Design
Sustainable expenditure should not be viewed solely as reducing funded supports. Parliament should also consider the costs associated with poor first-instance decision making, repeated evidence gathering, internal reviews, tribunal proceedings and implementation delays. Legislative reform should seek to reduce these avoidable costs through clearer rules, transparent evidence expectations and improved decision-making processes.
Conclusion
The NDIS is a vital national program. Long-term sustainability will be strengthened through better decision-making, genuine participant partnership, transparent evidence requirements and reduced administrative friction. These reforms can improve fairness, trust, value for money and scheme integrity simultaneously.