Apologies - I know this is late, but also note every voice matters.
The NDIS is critically important to our family right now. We have two children with autism and ADHD, one with Level 3 Autism and one with Level 2 Autism. The supports provided through the NDIS help our children participate in their community, build skills, access therapies, and reduce the significant pressures placed on our family.
I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the NDIS Act because they will directly impact our family. My wife and I are both teachers, and without appropriate supports for our children, it is likely that one of us would need to reduce our working hours or leave the workforce entirely to meet our children’s needs. This would have significant financial, emotional, and social consequences for our family.
I do not believe the proposed changes have been explained clearly enough. The information seems to change regularly, there is a lack of clear direction, and it is difficult to understand what the long-term implications will be for families like ours. This uncertainty creates additional stress and anxiety for families who are already managing complex care responsibilities.
The proposed changes could reduce choice and control for participants and families, which has always been one of the strengths of the NDIS. We worry that decisions will become more restrictive and less responsive to the individual needs of people with disability.
If social and community supports were reduced or removed, our children would become more isolated, have fewer opportunities to develop friendships and social skills, and our family would have fewer opportunities to participate in community life. These supports are not a luxury; they are essential for inclusion, wellbeing, and long-term outcomes.
If capacity-building supports were reduced or removed, or if we had never had access to them, our children would have fewer opportunities to
develop independence and essential life skills. These supports help build capability over time and reduce reliance on more intensive supports in the future. Removing them risks poorer outcomes for participants and increased pressure on families and other service systems.
Our extended family, particularly our children’s grandparents, already play a significant role in supporting us. However, they are getting older and their capacity to provide ongoing support is diminishing. We cannot rely on them indefinitely to fill gaps created by reductions in formal supports.
As parents, we already spend a significant amount of time providing additional support, advocacy, supervision, and care for our children. Much of our time is spent at home managing their needs or organising the supports required for them to participate successfully in everyday activities. We are experiencing increasing levels of fatigue and burnout, and reductions in support would place further strain on our family’s wellbeing and ability to continue working and contributing to the community.
The NDIS has been life-changing for many families, including ours. Any changes to the scheme should ensure that families continue to receive the support they need to help their children thrive, participate, and reach their full potential.
It is also important to remember the original purpose of the NDIS: to ensure that people with disability and their families are not financially disadvantaged because of disability. The scheme was designed to provide support that enables people with disability to participate in society while allowing families to remain engaged in employment and community life.
My wife and I are both teachers. We are hardworking, contributing members of our community who want to continue working, paying taxes, and contributing to the Australian economy. Without NDIS supports, however, families like ours face impossible choices. Prior to receiving support, we often found ourselves deciding which child would receive
assistance and which child would have to miss out because there were simply not enough resources available to meet both of their needs.
The reality is that reducing support does not remove need; it simply transfers the burden back onto families. In our case, it may mean one parent leaving the workforce or reducing hours to provide the care and support that would otherwise be funded through the NDIS.
More importantly, reducing supports risks limiting the long-term opportunities available to our children. Capacity-building supports, therapies, and community participation programs help develop the skills, independence, confidence, and resilience they will need as adults. These supports are investments in their future. The goal should be to maximise their ability to participate in society, pursue employment, and contribute to the Australian economy over their lifetime.
Without these supports, there is a real risk that children with disability will have fewer opportunities to build independence and achieve their potential. This not only impacts individuals and families but may also increase long-term reliance on government-funded services and reduce future workforce participation. Investing in children with disability today creates better outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and the economy tomorrow.