National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 4223
My son, , is 26 and lives in Regional NSW. He is a fun, busy and social guy with aspiraƟons to run
his own business. He also has Down syndrome, meaning he has a combinaƟon of intellectual & physical disabiliƟes.
The NDIS has completely changed ’s life and I am very concerned about the proposed changes. Before the NDIS, we had to go begging to support organisaƟons and take the scraps that fell from the table. He was socially isolated, depressed and angry, which impacted on everyone else in our household (my husband and ’s 2 siblings). We now use NDIS funding to ensure has a full and happy life. He lives 5 days per week in a SIL house with two friends who also have disabiliƟes, he’s studying hospitality at TAFE and works in the kitchen of as well as a local forkliŌ business. He is happier, healthier and more independent.
SecƟon 34A - I am very concerned about the proposed 50% cut to social and community parƟcipaƟon funding from October 2026. This seems a very blunt instrument with the objecƟve of saving money, rather than achieving the NDIS’ goals. With reduced funding, would a) not be able to undertake his employment (because we use that funding at a 1:1 raƟo); and b) would spend a lot of Ɵme alone, which would contribute to isolaƟon and depression. Changes to people’s funding should be done by taking individual’s needs into consideraƟon, not by taking a chainsaw to everyone indiscriminately!
By radically reducing people’s social and community parƟcipaƟon funding, we will end up with a cookie-cuƩer approach and more day care centres for people with disability because that will be the only way to make people’s reduced funding last. The concept of choice and control will go out the window and we’ll go back to the bad old days!
Please see the photo below of ’s micro-business - . That wouldn’t happen without access to social
and community parƟcipaƟng funding at a level that allows us to ensure he can do the things he wants to do.
SecƟon 33(2EA) - I am also very concerned about the Minister’s new power to cut funding without appeal and automated decisions and algorithms with no opportunity for individual appeal. The NDIS is about people, doing their best, to live their best lives as all of us should have the opportunity to do. Taking people out of the decision-making process, relying on AI and cuƫng funding without the opportunity of appeal is a robodebt disaster waiƟng to happen!
Please do not support any blanket changes, such as 50% cut to social and community parƟcipaƟon; the Minister’s power to cut funding without appeal; and automated decisions and algorithms with no individual appeal.