National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 3680

Submission Regarding the NDIS Amendment Bill

My name is and I am ’s dad. is a current NDIS participant, and I am writing to oppose the proposed NDIS Amendment Bill because I am genuinely worried about what it could mean for my son and families like ours.

Like most parents, all I want is for my child to have a good future. I want him to be happy, safe, independent and able to contribute to society in whatever way he can. I want him to have opportunities that many people take for granted – friendships, education, meaningful work and a sense of belonging in his community.

Right now, those things are far from guaranteed for .

    has significant developmental disabilities that affect almost every aspect of his life. He

struggles with communication, learning, emotional regulation, social participation, self-care and everyday functioning. Earlier this year, things became so difficult that he had to be withdrawn from mainstream schooling because the distress and overwhelm were having such a severe impact on him.

What people often don’t see is how much work goes into supporting a child like .

My wife works incredibly hard every single day to keep our family afloat. She coordinates appointments, communicates with therapists, advocates with schools, researches supports, manages crises, learns therapeutic strategies and spends countless hours helping navigate challenges that most families never have to think about.

And that is with NDIS support.

Even with occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology and professional guidance, there are days when our family is stretched to its absolute limits.

I honestly cannot imagine how we would cope with less support.

Without the NDIS, would be expected to carry even more of the burden herself. The reality is that no parent, no matter how dedicated, can replace an entire team of trained professionals.

The NDIS has not made our lives easy, but it has made them manageable.

It has helped us understand ’s needs. It has helped us access professionals who know how to support him. It has given us strategies that reduce his distress and improve his participation in everyday life. Most importantly, it has given us hope that the future can look different from the present.

What worries me about reducing access to these supports is that the consequences won’t just disappear.

Children like don’t suddenly stop needing help because funding changes.

Without support, they fall further behind.

Without support, they become more isolated.

Without support, their mental health suffers.

Without support, their chances of completing education, gaining employment and living independently become smaller.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 3680

As a father, that is what keeps me awake at night.

I don’t worry about whether will become a doctor or a lawyer. I worry about whether he will be okay. Whether he will have friends. Whether he will be able to work. Whether he will have the skills and confidence to participate in society. Whether he will have a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.

The NDIS gives us a chance to work towards those goals.

It gives the opportunity to develop skills now so that he may need less support in the future.

Removing or reducing that support does not save money in the long run. It simply increases the likelihood that children like my son will require far greater support later in life through welfare systems, mental health services, hospitals and other government-funded systems.

Supporting children early is not just compassionate. It is common sense.

My son is intelligent, funny, determined and capable of so much more than people often see. The professionals supporting him see that potential too. The reason we fight so hard for these supports is because we believe he deserves the opportunity to reach it.

Please do not make that harder.

Please remember that behind every funding decision is a real child, a real family and a future that is still being written.

Yours sincerely,