Easy Read submission template
About the new NDIS Bill
To Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
From Susan Arthur
Date 01/06/2026
Contact Susan Arthur
Important message
This submission talks about concerns about the Bill.
It does not say we agree with the Bill.
Why we wrote this in Easy English:
These submissions are written in Easy English because they are for self
advocates and people with disability.
Many people find government information hard to read. Some people need short
sentences, clear words and simple layouts to understand what changes may
mean for them.
Easy English helps more people take part, have their say and speak up about the
NDIS Bill.
The NDIS is about our lives, our rights and our support.
We should be able to understand the information and be part of decisions that
affect us.
About me I am Susan Arthur I am participant of the NDIS I know what good support looks like. I know what happens when support is not there.
Our main message I am worried the changes the government wants to make to NDIS laws will:
Put people with disability in danger
Hurt people’s physical health (meaning people won’t be able to communicate with doctors and specialists about their health, their health history and may not be able to understand what the doctor is saying about their health) and mental health
Put people’s safety and human rights at risk
Stop people getting what they need to live their lives
Most people need support workers in one way or another; our lives will go backwards if we do not have supports
People will lose their dignity and life style
We are worried the new Bill will mean people:
lose support they need get less support to go out in the community have less choice and control are not listened to in assessments cannot get help when their life changes People will have less funding
get less support in their home get less support learning new skills get less support to report incidents to police or other services get less support to communicate our needs
People with disabilities must be part of all decisions about the NDIS.
Nothing about us without us.
Key facts about the Bill
The Bill was introduced to Parliament in May 2026. The Senate Committee is looking at the Bill now. Submissions close on June 1st 2026.
This bill is rushed:
This bill is rushed and we do not have time to properly understand how this will affect us and to speak up about this
Self advocates NEED accessible information, like things in easy read and time to think and say how these changes will affect us.
Because this bill is rushed, SARU helped us write lots of this submission.
But self advocates should be given time and support to lead this work instead of relying on an organisation.
Social and Community support must not be cut Social and Community support is very important. It helps people: do things outside of the home they need to do to make and see friends go to appointments and go shopping go to self advocacy groups learn skills use transport
join the community speak up help with IT issues support health at GP’s and Specialists appointments help with personal care in the community supported decision making communication needs support people in the community who have behaviors of concern not be isolated
This support is not extra. It helps people have a real life.
Without it, people may be stuck at home. They may become lonely, unsafe, isolated and have their mental health decline.
We ask: Do not cut community support for everyone. REALLY look and understand what each person needs so all of their requirements are met. Talk to us and hear us, we are the experts at our own disability and know what we struggle with.
Assessments must be fair The Bill talks about new assessments.
Assessments must understand real life challenges and real requirements.
Some people:
need help to explain their needs Have good days and bad days use different ways to communicate feel scared in meetings say they are okay when they are not okay need someone they trust with them
People doing assessments must listen to the person.
People doing the assessments must also listen to the person a participant trusts.
People doing the assessments must have some disability knowledge.
People doing the assessments must be able to communicate clearly with participants.
I ask: No one should lose NDIS support because of an unfair assessment.
Choice and control must stay The NDIS should let people choose.
People should be able to choose:
their workers their providers
their support coordinator their plan manager how they use their support Trust is very important.
Some people have worked hard to find workers they trust.
New rules must not take this away.
I ask: Keep real choice and control in the NDIS.
People need help when life changes Life can change quickly.
A person may need more support if:
their carer gets sick they leave hospital they move house They are unsafe at home their mental health gets worse their provider stops helping them when they have crime happen when they get pregnant as their disability degenerates if they need sexual health support to get in contact with financial supports
People should not have to wait too long for help.
We ask: Make sure people can get an urgent plan change when they need it.
Advocacy must be funded Many people need support to speak up.
Self advocacy groups help people:
understand changes know their rights Speak up at meetings make complaints ask for reviews stay connected to other people
stay connected to their community
If the NDIS changes, people will need more advocacy support, not less.
I ask: Fund independent advocacy and self advocacy groups properly.
What we want the Senate Committee to do I ask the Senate Committee to make sure the Bill:
protects choice and control protects social and community support makes assessments fair let’s people get plan changes when life changes funds advocacy and self advocacy listens to people with disability before changes happen
Final message The NDIS helps people with disability live our lives.
It helps us be part of the community.
It helps us speak up.
It helps us be safe.
Do not change the NDIS without us.
Listen to self advocates.
Protect our rights.