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

Submission 3720

My NDIS Submission by Gary Newton

My name is Gary Newton, and I am a polio survivor. I contracted polio at just 15 months of age and have lived with permanent disability for more than 70 years.

The NDIS transformed my life when I became a participant in 2013. For the first time, I was given the opportunity not merely to survive, but to live with dignity, purpose and real connection to my community.

With the support of both formal and informal networks (particularly family & friends), I have been able to achieve goals that would once have seemed impossible. In 2018 I travelled to India, with the help of my wife and a small group of fellow polio survivors, I established a support organisation to help with polio vaccination and raise awareness of the devastating impact of polio. Knowing that our work may help prevent even one child from enduring what many of us have experienced gives profound meaning to our efforts.

NDIS support has also enabled me to become an active leader in my community. I joined Rotary, became President of Geelong East Rotary Club, chaired my local Rotary district’s PolioPlus Society, and helped secure significant funding to support the global fight against polio. These contributions would not have been possible without the practical support and confidence-building opportunities provided through the NDIS.

Beyond these achievements, the NDIS has given me something equally important: a sense of belonging. Through Capacity Building and Community Access supports, I have built friendships, confidence and purpose. These supports enabled me to serve as Vice President of Polio Australia and remain actively engaged in community life. Without them, my world would become significantly smaller.

Since the passing of my wife last December, these connections have become even more critical. Community participation is not a luxury for people like me—it is a lifeline. If my supports were reduced or removed, I would face increasing isolation, declining mental wellbeing, and the loss of many activities that give my life meaning and structure.

The proposed changes to the NDIS are deeply concerning. They risk returning people with disability to a time when they were too often overlooked, excluded and forgotten. The NDIS has empowered thousands of Australians to contribute to their communities, pursue their aspirations, and live with greater independence and dignity. Weakening these supports would have far-reaching consequences, not only for participants but also for the families, communities and organisations that benefit from their involvement.

I urge decision-makers to carefully consider the human impact of these proposed changes. Behind every support package is a person with hopes, talents, relationships and aspirations. The decisions made today will affect hundreds of thousands of Australians and their families for years to come.

The NDIS changed my life. It allowed me to move beyond disability and become an active contributor to my community. I ask that future reforms preserve that opportunity for others.

Sincerely,

Gary Newton

PS: I include some photos of myself at work in the community.

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

Submission 3720