National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 539
Director & Paediatric Speech Pathologist
Raised with Joy Speech Pathology
Submission regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing
the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
I am the owner and director of a small regional paediatric speech pathology practice supporting children and families across the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions of New South Wales.
This submission specifically addresses proposed changes within the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 relating to functional capacity assessments, reassessment processes, decision-making timeframes, and the increased reliance on informal supports.
While I acknowledge the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NDIS, I am concerned that aspects of this Bill may unintentionally reduce access to essential early intervention and therapy supports for children with disability, particularly in regional and semi-rural communities.
In paediatric practice, delays in support have real-world consequences.
When children cannot access timely therapy and support, we often see:
● increased behavioural distress, ● school disengagement, ● mental health impacts, ● reduced communication abilities, ● family burnout, ● feeding and safety concerns, and ● greater long-term support needs.
Many of the children we support are not visibly disabled in every setting. They may cope in structured environments because of significant parental support, therapy input, school adjustments and routines. I am concerned the proposed changes to “functional capacity” within the Bill may fail to reflect the reality of how these children function day to day and may result in reduced eligibility or supports for children whose needs fluctuate across environments.
I am also concerned about proposed restrictions to reassessments and extended decision-making timeframes contained within the Bill. Children’s developmental needs can
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 539
change rapidly, and delayed access to supports during critical developmental periods can have lifelong impacts.
As a small regional provider, I am particularly concerned about the impact these reforms may have on service availability in rural and regional communities.
Small allied health practices are already operating within significant workforce shortages, long waitlists and increasing administrative demands. Greater uncertainty around funding and support approvals arising from the proposed legislative changes may reduce the capacity of small providers to continue offering flexible, community-based services to vulnerable families.
I am also concerned that the increased emphasis on informal and parental supports proposed within the Bill does not adequately reflect the realities faced by many families caring for children with disability. Many parents are already experiencing significant financial, emotional and caregiving pressures. Reducing funded supports risks shifting more responsibility onto families who are already stretched beyond capacity.
I respectfully ask the Committee to consider the likely unintended impacts of these reforms on:
● children requiring early intervention, ● regional and semi-rural families, ● small community-based allied health providers, and ● long-term participant outcomes.
Sustainable reform is important, but it should not come at the cost of children missing critical developmental support during the years it matters most.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this submission.