National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 477
From: Sent: Wednesday, 20 May 2026 13:58 To: SeniorClerk, Committee (SEN) SeniorClerk.Committees.Sen@aph.gov.au Cc: policy@ota.com.au; Laxale, Jerome (MP Office) Jerome.Laxale.MP@aph.gov.au; portstephens@parliament.nsw.gov.au; lanecove@parliament.nsw.gov.au; kogarah@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Subject: Submission Regarding Proposed NDIS Reforms
To whom it may concern,
I am a Senior Occupational Therapist with more than 14 years of paediatric experience, having worked in paediatric practice since September 2011. I currently work within a private paediatric clinic in a metropolitan setting, supporting children and families with complex developmental, functional, behavioural, sensory, psychosocial, and disability-related presentations.
My professional focus has been early intervention and supporting young children presenting with emerging developmental concerns. I have extensive experience working collaboratively with families, schools, educators, and multidisciplinary teams, including within international school settings. This has provided broad insight into how disability and developmental challenges affect participation across home, school, and community environments.
I acknowledge the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS and understand the need for thoughtful reform. However, I hold concerns regarding proposed changes that may reduce or delay access to allied health and early intervention supports for children and young people with disability, developmental differences, autism, psychosocial disability, and fluctuating functional capacity.
In paediatric practice, functional challenges are often not fully captured through highly standardised or snapshot-style reassessments. Many children are able to temporarily mask difficulties in structured settings, while still experiencing significant sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, fatigue, executive functioning difficulties, or burnout across daily life. A child may appear capable during a brief assessment, yet require extensive support to participate consistently across school, home, and community environments.
There is concern that some participants may lose supports despite ongoing real-world functional challenges. This may unintentionally create a system where support becomes more accessible only once a child or family reaches crisis point, rather than through preventative intervention that maintains stability and participation.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 477
Early intervention and maintenance-based supports are often the most effective and economically responsible forms of care. In clinical practice, timely therapy and collaborative supports can reduce escalation of mental health concerns, school disengagement, family stress, and future reliance on more intensive systems.
The broader economic impacts of insufficient support should also be considered carefully. Reduced access to early and ongoing intervention may contribute to:
reduced workforce participation for both participants and caregivers, increased reliance on welfare and healthcare systems, greater pressure on schools and public services, increased long-term mental health costs, and reduced long-term productivity and community participation.
I am also concerned that children with moderate but significant support needs may increasingly fall through service gaps if thresholds become too restrictive. These children are often highly responsive to early intervention, and without support their difficulties may escalate over time.
Continuity of care and trusted therapeutic relationships are also essential within paediatric practice. Effective intervention is relationship-based, neuroaffirming, and responsive to the child’s real-life participation needs across environments. Disruptions to therapy and funding instability can significantly impact progress and family wellbeing.
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the role of the private allied health sector. Many experienced paediatric clinicians now work within private practice settings. Destabilising this sector may worsen workforce shortages, increase waitlists, and reduce timely access to supports for children and families.
In conclusion, I support balanced reform that protects both the sustainability of the NDIS and meaningful participant outcomes. I encourage policymakers to ensure reforms remain grounded in the realities of child development, fluctuating functional capacity, and the long-term value of early intervention and preventative support.
A sustainable system should support children before difficulties escalate, not only once crisis has occurred.
Thank you for considering the perspectives of clinicians, children, and families who engage with these systems every day. I remain hopeful that future reforms can achieve a balanced approach that supports both long-term sustainability and the ability for children and young people with disability to participate meaningfully, develop safely, and reach their potential within their homes, schools, and communities.
Kind Sydney Clinic: 2/33 Alexandra Street, Hunters
Regards, Hill, NSW 2110
Elle Office Phone: Millward (she/her)
Office Email: sydney@leapfrogtherapy.com.au
Senior Occupational Therapist Website: www.leapfrogtherapy.com.au
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