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

Submission 3934

I am a 56 year-old male that has been a quadriplegic since August 2004. A year ago I was medically retired from the defence public service after 22 years. Before that I spent 15 years in uniform in the Australian Army.

I currently live in my own home by myself and have no family support. My informal support is extremely limited and only provides “home handyman style support.” I heavily rely on the NDIS to provide what I NEED not DESIRE to live my best life.

I am reliant on support workers to help me in all aspects of my life; bathing, toileting, dressing, food preparation, access to the community, getting into bed, getting out of bed, and domestic duties in my home. I am reliant on equipment and consumables classified by my quadriplegia. I’m reliant on my exercise physiologist, my physiotherapist and my occupational therapist to keep challenging me so I can retain my level of Independence (as limited as it may be.)

The proposed changes to the NDIS act feel rushed and not reasonably investigated. Consultation with the disabled community has not been detailed enough nor have the changes been clearly explained. From what has been explained to me, and what I have read about the changes to the NDIS act, it frightens me.

I want an NDIS that provides me with a plan that supports me in my goals to be as independent as possible, live in my own home, and be community inclusive. Right now, The proposed NDIS act changes will limit my physical support (in terms of support workers and allied health staff) and limit my access to appropriate equipment and consumables. I cannot live without the NDIS but it must be an NDIS that provides me with what I NEED to live my best disabled life possible.