Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill

Name:

I am a: x Disabled person x Family member / supporter x Clinician x Other: ___________________

1. My connection to this issue

(Your lived experience, work, or role)

I have cerebral palsy, use a walker, and have a history of anxiety and depression.

2. My overall view of this Bill

(Do you support / oppose / have concerns?)

Though I appreciate the need to manage the ballooning costs of the NDIS, I have serious concerns with the proposed bill and its potential impact on people with disabilities, their families, and workers within the sector. The future of the NDIS feels uncertain.

3. My main concerns

x Communication and accessibility x Administrative burden x Loss or reduction of supports x Community participation x Crisis situations / “not contactable” rules x Children / families / early intervention x Eligibility or assessment changes x Other: ___________________

For each concern you choose, write:

• What your concern is
• Why it matters to you

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I’m concerned that the NDIS is becoming increasingly restrictive. Recent payment periods have repeatedly limited my access to services and participation in the community. I’m concerned about its current state and, in the long term, I’m worried that the NDIS will be altered beyond recognition, no longer reflecting its intended purpose of giving people with disabilities choice and control.

In addition, although I am capable of managing the administration of my plan, I feel the proposed “not contactable” rules will create too much dependency on automated software, depersonalise the experiences of people with disabilities, and create unfair repercussions for individuals who experience periods of being “not contactable”.

I am currently contemplating requesting a plan review; however, reports around tightening review processes make me hesitant to pursue that option. The proposed changes to review eligibility feel punitive.

4. What this looks like in real life

I typically monitor my funding closely to ensure that I do not exceed my payment allocation within a single period. This often means I am forced to be more selective about when and where I utilise my support workers.

On average, I postpone approximately two weeks’ worth of shifts with my support workers each payment quarter to ensure I do not exceed my funding for that period.

This means I lose access to transportation, meal preparation, and, most importantly, vital social support, while simultaneously impacting the job security of my support workers and allied health team.

I spend more time at home and rely on grocery and food deliveries to manage my fatigue. I have less access to the community and miss out on activities that maintain my health and wellbeing, including swimming, physiotherapy, and family connection.

These periods, while manageable, can be deeply isolating and restrict my quality of life. They also lead me to contemplate what my life would look like without the NDIS.

The service has truly been life-altering in the best way.

5. What I want the committee to understand

The committee needs to understand that cost-cutting measures should focus on:

• Compulsory registration practices (which I appreciate are being introduced)
• Identifying scammers and fraudulent providers
• Addressing inflated fees charged by providers for goods and services (for example, I paid more than $600 for my walker)

6. My position on this Bill

I want to feel assured that the NDIS will remain accessible and focused on participants, ensuring choice and control while enabling people with disabilities to live with as much dignity and autonomy as possible.

I do not feel assured by this bill. My family and friends do not feel assured by this bill. My workers and providers do not feel assure by this bill. There is a collective sense of anxiety around the future of the NDIS.

The proposed eligibility reviews, renewal restrictions, and administrative changes are among the most concerning aspects of the bill, though this is not an exhaustive list. I feel particularly concerned for people with disabilities that may be less visible, including neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disabilities, who rely heavily on this service.

My overall position is that, in its current form, this bill stands to harm NDIS participants and those around them. It is impossible to overstate how vital this service is for so many people.

I ask that the Government withdraw this Bill in its current form and undertake further consultation with people with disabilities, families, providers and advocacy organisations before introducing any future changes to the NDIS.