NDIA Accountability Project

Impact on disabled friends' access to support and social isolation

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

Submission 3796

NDIS Amendment Bill Submission Templates

Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill

Name:

I am a: close friend of multiple disabled persons and a community member.

  1. My connection to this issue

I am a close friend with two disabled persons who are receiving support under the NDIS. The changes proposed will significantly affect their ability to be involved with community, their ability to leave the house, and to meet friends. I am deeply concerned that my friends will be unable to have their fundamental needs met, that could lead to their disability worsening.

  1. My overall view of this Bill

I have serious concerns regarding the bill and I am urging the government to talk directly with disabled people before moving forward.

  1. My main concerns

Communication and accessibility

  • I am very concerned with the ‘Tighter timeframes for communication or responses’. The nature of the disability and the disabled person’s current living situation can change very dynamically. The proposed changes do not accommodate for their changing needs, and will at times penalise the disabled persons for encountering extenuating circumstances.

  • This matters to me greatly because my friends’ illnesses can be very dynamic, and at times they’re completely bedridden and unable to complete basic tasks like preparing food or washing clothes, let alone responding to an NDIS appointment in a timely manner. I am very concerned that these changes will impact them very negatively when they are already having a hard time.

Crisis situations / “not contactable” rules

  • I am opposed to the “not-contactable” changes to the scheme that could affect a disabled person’s access to support if they were admitted to a hospital, or have missed payment of internet or phone bills and are not reachable, or are bedridden due to their conditions. These amendments have seriously harmful knock-on effects that seem to have not been taken into account when drafting the bill.

  • This matters to me greatly because at times I was personally unable to contact my friends for similar reasons, causing me a great amount of stress and worry about

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

Submission 3796

their safety. I ask that the government take into account the broader community impact these changes will have.

Increased use of automated systems

-I am strongly opposed to the use of automated systems with the assessment of support needs. I ask that the government acknowledges that each disabled individual is a person with family and friends that care about them, and not just a checklist or a list of diagnoses. I ask that the government acknowledge that automated systems are still very flawed in their current state, and delegating the assessment of needs to an automated system is deeply unethical and inhumane.

-this matters to me because my experience with automated systems has been that of frustration and endless back and forths that only wastes time and energy, only for me to end up needing to phone a person or go in person if possible. I am highly concerned that such flawed systems will be the ones assessing the eligibility and needs of disabled people to access services that they rely on for their survival and continued wellbeing.

  1. What this looks like in real life

As it stands, I am extremely worried that the bill will significantly impact my friends’ access to support, which will isolate them from our friend group. I am very worried for my friends’ wellbeing and safety. My friends’ wellbeing, and ability to complete essential tasks, let alone their ability to attend group events, will affect me and my other friends drastically. I ask that the government takes into account the knock on effect that the bill will have beyond those who directly benefit from the NDIS.

  1. What I want the committee to understand

I ask that the committee understand that as it stands, the bill refuses to acknowledge the fact that disabled people have diverse needs and as such, each individual requires significant support services that take sincere interest and willingness to learn more about their disability, not just check boxes and move on to the next client.

I ask that the committee understand that disabled people are heavily impacted by social isolation, and any changes that make it harder for them to leave the house and meet friends, will seriously worsen their condition.

I ask that the committee acknowledges that a disabled person’s access to support is their access to basic rights, such as health, food, community and education.

  1. My position on this Bill

I strongly oppose the bill as it stands. I ask that the government put these changes on hold, and provide additional time for NDIS recipients and community members to speak their concerns. I ask that the government take extra steps to be more mindful of disabled people’s capacity to engage with the consultation process, and guarantee funding to those individuals whose survival and wellbeing rely on NDIS support.