Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee

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

Introduction

My name is . I am the mother, guardian and nominee of a man in his 50s who lives with intellectual disability, autism, schizophrenia, vision impairment and behaviours of concern.

Like many people of his generation, he entered institutional care and disability boarding schools at four years of age and has lived through every major transition in Australia’s disability system, from large institutions to modern supported accommodation.

Throughout his life he has experienced periods of inappropriate placement, including mental health facilities, exposure to abuse and violence from other residents, and neglect from services that were not equipped to support people with complex behavioural needs.

Today he lives a stable and meaningful life in supported accommodation. He benefits from a Positive Behaviour Support Plan, skilled support workers, structured routines and regular community participation.

He is a social man who enjoys conversation and interaction with the wider community. He particularly enjoys bowling, cafés, shopping, shooting hoops, walks and opportunities to meet people.

As I age, our family is planning for the future. His siblings and extended family live in Sydney and Adelaide and will eventually assume responsibility for maintaining oversight of his wellbeing and supports. We are exploring a future relocation closer to family so that he can remain connected, supported and safeguarded when I am no longer able to advocate for him.

I support the goal of strengthening and sustaining the NDIS. However, several aspects of the proposed reforms create uncertainty for people like my son whose quality of life depends upon a combination of behaviour support, community participation, skilled staffing and family oversight.

The proposed reduction in Social, Civic and Community Participation (SCCP) funding is of particular concern.

My Son’s Community Participation

My son’s community participation is not recreational in the ordinary sense.

He requires 1:1 support to safely access the community due to his intellectual disability, autism, schizophrenia, vision impairment and behaviours of concern.

His participation supports allow him to:

- attend his Day Options program;
- leave the program to participate in ordinary community activities;
- access bowling, cafés, shops and parks;
- interact with members of the public;
- maintain social connections;
- participate in everyday life.

These supports are an important component of his Positive Behaviour Support Plan.

When opportunities for meaningful participation are reduced, his behaviours of concern typically increase. Community access is therefore not simply about recreation. It contributes directly to behavioural stability, emotional wellbeing and community safety.

I ask the Committee to ensure that future planning frameworks recognise that participation supports may serve behavioural, psychosocial and safeguarding functions for some participants and should not automatically be viewed as discretionary or non-essential supports.

Capacity Building Supports

The proposed reforms also raise concerns regarding capacity building supports.

My son’s long-term goal is to spend more time with family and eventually relocate closer to them.

To achieve this safely he requires support to gradually develop confidence and skills around:

- travel and public transport;
- airports and aircraft;
- navigating unfamiliar environments;
- exploring new opportunities in new communities and getting to know new people

At present, while loving meeting new people, he is fearful of many aspects of travel and requires specialised support to engage with these experiences and to prevent escalating behaviours.

These supports may not immediately reduce his support needs, but they increase his opportunities, independence, confidence and family connection.

Functional Capacity Assessments and Standardisation

The reforms propose greater reliance on standardised assessments and support needs assessments.

My son lives with multiple interacting disabilities:

intellectual disability;
autism;
schizophrenia;
vision impairment;
behaviours of concern
health complications stemming from lack of insight to and poor management of his health needs over time.

His support needs cannot be understood by examining any one diagnosis in isolation.

I am concerned that future assessment systems may not adequately capture the combined impact of cognitive, psychosocial, behavioural and sensory disabilities when determining support needs.

I ask the Committee to ensure future assessment frameworks include safeguards for participants with multiple disabilities and complex behavioural support needs, and that assessments are capable of recognising the interaction between different impairments.

long-term stability.

I ask the Committee to ensure future home and living reforms preserve participant choice and recognise the importance of maintaining stable living arrangements for people with complex support needs.

Family Connection and Geographic Isolation

As I grow older, our family must consider how my son will remain connected to those who know and care about him.

His siblings and extended family live interstate. Maintaining these relationships is critical to his long-term wellbeing, safeguarding and quality of life.

Future planning frameworks should recognise that family connection is not merely a personal preference. For many people with lifelong disability, family members provide continuity, advice, oversight and protection that cannot easily be replaced.

I ask the Committee to ensure future planning frameworks recognise the importance of maintaining and strengthening family connection, particularly where ageing parents are no longer able to fulfil advocacy and oversight roles.

Conclusion

My son has lived through institutionalisation, segregation, inappropriate placements and periods of poor support. He has also experienced the benefits that come when people with disability are supported to participate in ordinary community life.

The NDIS has helped create that opportunity.

I support efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the Scheme. However, I ask the Committee to ensure that the reforms do not unintentionally reduce opportunities for community participation, family connection, behavioural stability and long-term safeguarding for people with complex disabilities.

For people like my son, these supports are not extras. They are the foundations of a safe, stable and meaningful life.