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

Submission 3889

To whom it may concern,

My name is , and I am a Registered Music Therapist from Melbourne. I work in early education, and with adults undergoing oncology, haematology, and palliative care. I have seen - both through my work, and in my personal life - the massive benefits that can come from people accessing appropriate support through the NDIS. I have also seen the difficulties and heartache associated with the process of trying to access that support, and worry that restricting access further will result in unnecessary pain, suffering, and even early and avoidable deaths.

I am particularly concerned about the proposed changes to how the NDIA defines “permanence” with regards to disability. Under the proposed changes, participants will have to prove that they’ve exhausted every possible treatment option for their condition before they can access NDIS support. Access to treatment is not equal in this country. Where people live and how much money they have access to can limit access to healthcare, meaning some participants will not be able to exhaust every treatment option technically available. In the case of younger people with terminal diseases who don’t qualify for aged care, they may have chosen to cease treatment and transition to palliative care, even when there is technically a small chance of recovery under a certain treatment. This choice shouldn’t limit their access to NDIS support to be cared for in the community. Less NDIS support for younger people with terminal illness means more hospital beds being taken up unnecessarily, as well as more heartache for the patients and their families.