Submission 537
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing in opposition to the proposed changes to the NDIS Act.
At Project Epic, we work alongside people with disabilities every single day, and what we see is not waste, rorting or people taking advantage of the system. We see human beings fighting for connection, dignity, independence and the chance to experience life in the same way everybody else does.
The NDIS is not just about “supports.” For many people, it is the difference between isolation and belonging. Between existing and truly living.
The current public conversation around the NDIS has become deeply harmful. People with disabilities are too often spoken about as though they are a financial burden rather than human beings deserving of support, inclusion and opportunity.
One of the most concerning aspects of the proposed changes is the amendment to section 24 of the NDIS Act regarding eligibility requirements and the assessment of whether an impairment is likely to be permanent. Requiring participants to pursue all possible treatments before qualifying for support creates an unreasonable and restrictive threshold that does not reflect the realities faced by many Australians living with disability.
Not all treatments are affordable. Not all treatments are accessible. Not all treatments are available in regional or rural communities. And not all disabilities can or should be approached with the expectation that a person must endlessly try to “fix” themselves in order to deserve support.
These provisions place an unfair burden on participants to continually justify their disability and pursue treatments that may be financially out of reach, medically inappropriate, emotionally exhausting or unlikely to improve their quality of life. They also fail to recognise that many disabilities are lifelong and that support should not be conditional on a person endlessly attempting interventions simply to prove they are “disabled enough” to qualify for assistance.
There is also significant concern that these changes will create further delays, confusion and inconsistency in access decisions, particularly for people with psychosocial disabilities, fluctuating conditions and those living in rural or regional areas where specialist treatment options are limited.
People with disabilities should not have to prove their worth or exhaust themselves trying to meet impossible standards before they are allowed access to connection, safety and community participation.
Submission 537
Beyond eligibility changes, there are broader concerns throughout the Bill that narrow the definition of what constitutes reasonable and necessary supports, increase ministerial powers over support categories and create greater uncertainty around participant eligibility and plan reassessments.
These changes shift the scheme further away from its original purpose of providing people with disabilities with stability, autonomy and confidence that their essential supports will remain available. Narrowing what can be funded risks excluding supports that are vital for daily living, social participation, independence and mental wellbeing, despite these supports often preventing greater long-term costs and crises.
Expanding ministerial powers also raises concern that decisions about supports may become increasingly influenced by political or financial pressures rather than the individual needs and rights of participants. Increased uncertainty around eligibility and reassessments places people with disabilities under constant stress and fear that critical supports could be reduced or removed at any time, making it harder for individuals and families to plan for the future, maintain employment, engage in education or participate safely in their communities.
Collectively, these changes risk undermining the intent of the NDIS as a scheme designed to provide certainty, dignity and meaningful support for people with disabilities.
At Project Epic, we see every day what happens when people are properly supported.
We see people leaving their homes after years of isolation. We see friendships form. We see confidence grow. We see people access their communities safely. We see joy, belonging and genuine quality of life.
Social and community supports are not “extras.” They are essential to mental health, emotional wellbeing, independence and human connection.
The proposed changes relating to what supports can be considered “NDIS supports” risk excluding supports that are critical for social participation and community access. In our experience, these supports are directly connected to improved wellbeing, independence and long-term outcomes for participants.
If these supports are reduced or removed, people will become more isolated, more vulnerable and more disconnected from their communities. Families and carers will experience increased burnout, and many people with disabilities will lose access to the very things that give their lives meaning, purpose and dignity.
Capacity building supports are equally important. These supports help people develop skills, confidence, independence and safety over time. Removing these supports does not create independence — it removes the opportunity for it.
Submission 537
The proposed reforms should recognise the long-term value of capacity building supports rather than narrowing access to them. These supports are preventative, reduce future reliance on crisis services and help participants engage more fully in their communities.
The people we support do not just benefit from connection — they create it. They bring warmth, perspective, compassion and humanity into the lives of everyone around them. They remind us what truly matters.
People with disabilities are not a budget line. They are people.
And every person deserves the chance to live a meaningful, connected and beautiful life.
I strongly urge the Government to reconsider these proposed changes and to genuinely listen to the voices of people with disabilities, families, carers and the communities who support them every day.