National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 532
To the Senate Community Affairs Committee,
My name is Justine Barragan and I am writing regarding the NDIS Future Generations Bill 2026. I am both a parent of a child with ASD Level 2 and PDA, and a provider of support coordination within the NDIS sector. I care deeply about the future of the scheme because I see both personally and professionally how critical individualised, person centred supports are for vulnerable Australians and their families.
I strongly oppose sections of this Bill unless significant amendments are made. I am especially concerned about the proposed cuts to social and community participation funding, the expanded powers under section 34A, the reduction of participant choice and control, and the weakening of appeal and review rights.
As both a parent and support coordinator, I am already seeing the harmful impacts of recent changes to funding periods and planning decisions. Decisions are increasingly being made that are not safe, not individualised, and that increase risk for already vulnerable participants. Shortened funding periods create instability, stress, and disruption to essential supports. Families and participants are spending more time fighting administrative decisions instead of focusing on wellbeing, independence, and participation in the community. These changes disproportionately impact people with complex disabilities, psychosocial disabilities, autism, and high support needs.
The proposed 50% reduction to social and community participation funding is particularly alarming. These supports are not luxuries — they are often the difference between isolation and inclusion. For many autistic children and adults, community access supports build emotional regulation, confidence, routine, independence, and connection. Removing or significantly reducing these supports will increase family burnout, mental health decline, crisis presentations, and long-term costs to the broader system.
I am also deeply concerned about section 34A and the increasing ability for funding to be reduced without proper consultation, transparency, or meaningful appeal rights. No Minister or automated process should have the authority to reduce vital supports without independent
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 532
oversight and procedural fairness. The NDIS was founded on choice, control, and individualisation, yet this Bill moves further away from those principles. The reduction of participant choice around support coordination and self-management risks creating a more rigid, provider-controlled system that does not reflect the needs of real people.
I ask the Committee to recommend significant amendments to this Bill, including protecting social and community participation funding, preserving genuine participant choice and control, protecting independent support coordination, and ensuring all participants retain strong review and appeal rights before funding decisions are changed. People with disability, families, and frontline workers must be properly listened to before reforms of this scale proceed.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Justine Barragan
Kinglake, Victoria
I consent to my name being published with this submission.