Submission 334
To Whom It May Concern
I’ve been a NDIS participant since 2020 and I’m emailing you because I’m extremely concerned about the impacts the proposed changes may have on me
For me being blessed to be a NDIS participant means that I have access to supports that I’ve never had, it means less isolation, a chance to become more independent and build capacity
The proposed changes to the NDIS Act are disgusting and again fail to address the systemic issues of the scheme:
Fraud
De-registering shonky providers Not registering as many providers in the first place Scrutinising SDA providers who fail to get quotes approved, threatening participants in emails for something they’re obligated to fix, claiming SDA payment prior to participant even moving into the dwelling, SDA providers creating service agreements without any consultation with the participant, breaching participants privacy These are some of the ongoing and genuine problem areas of the scheme that must be addressed as the highest priority not reducing participants’ plans because it’s easier for the government not to properly address them again.
The proposed NDIS changes definitely haven’t been explained clearly enough. Widespread confusion and anxiety remain within the disability community. While the government is implementing these changes for financial sustainability versus the needs of all participants, the rapid rollout of new laws leaves many critical details such as exact eligibility criteria and plan impacts unclear.
The lack of clarity primarily stems from the speed of the legislative rollout and the uncertainty surrounding how they will affect individual funding plans These proposed changes totally lack any care for the participants whatsoever and shows the government has absolutely no idea how to fix the problems with the scheme nor do they want to, they just want to keep targeting the vulnerable because they know they don’t deserve much anyway and won’t fight back, the changes totally lack a holistic approach and are disgraceful and must be stopped.
The NDIS proposed changes to NDIS would definitely leave me with a reduced plan yet again, limiting my need to have access to ongoing supports that I need and must have to be able to manage my disability effectively but of course the government doesn’t care about this critical aspect, it would also definitely limit my chances of being able to access the community and spend time with family having a life which is something every individual in society deserves and just because we have disabilities doesn’t mean we deserve any less opportunities.
Submission 334
If the government and NDIS took away or reduced funding for social and community support I’d be left facing severe isolation, an inability to work or study, and a risk of declining physical and mental health. Without this funding, everyday activities like shopping, attending appointments, and connecting with the local community become significantly harder, forcing an over-reliance on informal supports
Reducing or removing a participant’s Capacity Building supports or lacking access from the start often results in a loss of long-term independence, increased social isolation, and declining physical or mental health. Participants may become permanently reliant on basic, costly daily care (Core Supports) because they were never given the tools to develop skills to manage independently
The removal or absence of these supports also directly impacts a participant’s life in several concrete ways:
Increased Reliance on Core Supports
Exacerbation of Health Issues
Social Isolation and Stagnation
Barriers to Employment and Education
Plan Management and Advocacy: Improved Life Choices and Support
Coordination help participants manage budgets and connect with providers. Without these services, participants may experience budget mismanagement, exhaust funds early, or struggle to coordinate the care they desperately need
If one of the major changes proposed in this legislation relates to how the NDIA defines ‘permanence’ in relation to disability, it would totally go against the Human Rights of every participant
From a human rights perspective, the proposed changes to the NDIAs definition of “permanence” risk violating the fundamental principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD). The shift restricts access to the NDIS by heavily conditioning eligibility on exhausting “all appropriate treatments”.
Submission 334
Human rights advocates, including the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, argue this approach conflicts with disability rights in several ways:
Failure to Account for Systemic Inequality: Requiring applicants to exhaust all treatments “commonly available in Australia” disadvantages those who cannot afford private care or live in regional and remote areas, violating principles of equity and inclusion.
Erosion of Choice and Control: The CRPD guarantees personal autonomy and the right to make choices about one’s life. Forcing people into medical treatments they may not want, simply to access disability supports, undermines this core human right.
Focusing on “Fixing” Rather Than Supporting: The human rights model of disability focuses on societal barriers and human dignity, not just medical diagnosis. The proposed legislation takes a highly medicalized, deficit-based approach, penalizing individuals whose conditions are lifelong but fluctuate or require ongoing management.
Lack of Holistic Assessment: By narrowing how permanence and functional capacity are measured, the changes risk assessing people in isolation rather than looking at their lives holistically within their real-world environment.
The Disability Discrimination Commissioner has strongly cautioned that any NDIS restructure must prioritize independent living, social participation, and individual autonomy over rigid, prescriptive frameworks.
NDIS provides services to a vulnerable segment of the population, it must operate in alignment with the human rights framework upheld by the AHRC. The Disability Discrimination Commissioner at the AHRC actively monitors the NDIS, scrutinizing scheme changes and regulations to ensure they uphold human rights
As a very anxious participant about what the future may look like, I’m asking you to please step into the shoes of disabled people to experience life from our perspectives before considering some of
these extreme proposed changes, I’m asking for common sense to prevail.
Please provide a written response to my email.
Thank you very much
Kind regards