Submission 635
Submitted on behalf of my husband I am submitting this on behalf of my husband, who is an Exercise Physiologist working in regional NSW. He has reviewed and approved this submission.
Request: Name Withheld I request that my name and any identifying business details be withheld from public publication. I am happy for the committee to know I am an Exercise Physiologist working in regional NSW (Bega area). This is to protect client confidentiality in a small regional community.
Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future
Generations) Bill 2026
Submitted by: Exercise Physiologist
Location: Bega, Regional NSW
Date: 30 May 2026
Introduction
I am an Exercise Physiologist with 13 years of clinical experience. For the past five years I have worked extensively with NDIS participants, delivering tailored exercise programs and movement-based interventions to support their health and participation goals. I provide clinic based services in regional New South Wales, working with adults and teenagers who have complex physical, neurological, and psychosocial conditions.
While I strongly support the need to secure the long-term sustainability of the NDIS, I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to how functional capacity is assessed and how disability-related support needs are defined. These changes are likely to have particularly serious impacts for participants living in regional areas like mine.
Area of Concern 1: Redefining Functional Capacity
The Bill suggests that functional capacity should be assessed without taking into account assistance from others, assistive technology, environmental modifications, or personal circumstances. In my view, this approach creates a very unrealistic picture of how people with disabilities actually live and function day to day.
Real-life examples (de-identified):
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A 56-year-old man with tetraplegia can show some upper limb movement during a short clinic assessment, but in real life he depends on specialised seating, wheelchair customisations, and carer support to move safely and participate in exercise sessions.
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A teenage boy with ASD generally manages basic motor tasks in a controlled setting, yet he faces major difficulties with motor planning, coordination, and sensory regulation in everyday environments such as school, home, or the community.
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An adult living with PTSD and chronic pain can complete simple movements in a quiet clinic but often experiences significant pain flares, exhaustion, and distress when faced with normal daily demands.
Submission 635
- A client with a Traumatic Brain Injury and drop foot relies on an ankle-foot orthosis and targeted gait training to walk safely. Without these supports, particularly on uneven rural surfaces, his mobility and safety drop sharply.
For the people I work with, meaningful function is only possible because of the right supports, equipment, and environmental adjustments.
Recommendation: Functional capacity assessments need to reflect real-world conditions. They should properly consider assistive technology, environmental factors, assistance from others, and personal circumstances. Assessments would also benefit from input by qualified allied health professionals who understand how people actually move and function in their daily lives.
Area of Concern 3: Supports Must Arise “Directly” From Impairment
The proposal that supports must arise strictly and directly from a person’s impairment overlooks the complex way impairments interact with environment, daily demands, and participation barriers. In exercise physiology, many of the programs I deliver address the practical, real-life consequences of disability.
Real-life examples (de-identified):
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The 56-year-old man with tetraplegia needs regular exercise physiology input to prevent secondary issues such as cardiovascular decline and muscle contractures. These needs stem from both his spinal injury and practical barriers like inaccessible housing and limited regional transport.
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The teenage boy with ASD benefits greatly from structured exercise programs that help with emotional regulation, strength, and social participation. His support needs are shaped by the combination of autism and challenging sensory or community environments.
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The adult with PTSD, chronic pain, and TBI uses exercise to manage pain and maintain function, but his needs are heavily influenced by environmental triggers, fatigue, and access difficulties common in regional areas.
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The client with drop foot following TBI requires ongoing gait retraining and orthotic support. This need comes from the interaction between his neurological condition and the practical realities of living in a rural area with long distances and uneven terrain.
Recommendation: The legislation should recognise that disability support needs usually arise from the interaction between a person’s impairment, their environment, and real-life participation barriers. I encourage the Committee to maintain a broader, more practical understanding of disability rather than adopting overly narrow definitions. Preventative and participation-focused supports, including exercise physiology, must continue to be recognised as reasonable and necessary.
Conclusion
The NDIS participants I see in regional New South Wales show every day that disability support must be based on how people actually live, not artificial or overly simplified assessments. I urge the Committee to amend the Bill to ensure functional capacity is assessed realistically and that
Submission 635
support needs are not defined too narrowly. This is vital for people in regional and rural Australia to continue accessing important services such as exercise physiology.
Thank you for considering my submission.