National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 678
NDIS Reform Submission
To the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee,
RE: Concerns Regarding Proposed NDIS Reforms and Their Impact on Vulnerable Participants
I am a 21-year-old university student and co-guardian for my two uncles, who are NDIS participants living with severe and permanent disabilities including schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury (ABI), significant mobility impairment, and complex psychosocial and medical needs.
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed NDIS reforms and the potential impact they may have on some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
My uncles rely heavily on their current supports in order to live stable, safe, and dignified lives within the community. Their supports are not excessive, recreational, or optional. They are essential disability-related supports that prevent deterioration, hospitalisation, isolation, and neglect.
One of my greatest concerns is the proposed reduction in community access and social participation supports.
If these hours are reduced, my uncles will effectively become confined to the home with minimal meaningful communication or engagement with the outside world. This would be devastating for their mental health, physical wellbeing, and overall stability.
Their community access supports are not simply “social outings.” They are essential supports directly connected to their disabilities and daily functioning. These supports enable them to: • attend frequent medical, psychiatric, pathology, physiotherapy, podiatry, and disability- related appointments; • participate in exercise and mobility programs essential to maintaining physical function and preventing further decline; • maintain routine, structure, and psychological stability; • remain connected to the community rather than becoming isolated and institutionalised.
Reducing these supports would likely result in severe deterioration of their conditions. It would increase the risk of isolation, deconditioning, worsening mental illness, behavioural escalation, hospital admissions, and complete social withdrawal.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 678
Another major concern is the destabilisation of their current care environment and the potential loss of their long-term trusted support workers.
My uncles have had culturally appropriate, trusted support workers for approximately nine years. These workers understand their communication styles, routines, behaviours, cultural background, mental health needs, mobility limitations, and medical complexities. Continuity of care has been one of the most important factors contributing to their stability and wellbeing.
Any forced changes to their support environment or staffing arrangements would be extremely disruptive and potentially dangerous.
I am also deeply concerned that the direction of these reforms may gradually push vulnerable people back toward clinically styled institutional settings under the guise of “efficiency” or cost reduction.
My family has already experienced the consequences of this.
Approximately two years ago, my uncles trialled a SIL-style institutional care arrangement for around ten months. The outcome was extremely distressing and harmful. During this period, both experienced significant destabilisation of their conditions, increased behavioural distress, increased medication requirements, worsening mental health, and hospitalisation.
That model of care did not work for them.
The current support arrangement, which is more personalised, community-based, and familiar, has proven to be significantly safer and more effective. Their current supports are stable and working well. Any unnecessary disruption to this stability risks serious harm.
I am deeply worried that Australia may be moving backwards toward systems that resemble the institutional models of the 1980s and 1990s — systems where vulnerable people were hidden away, isolated from society, and stripped of dignity, autonomy, and meaningful participation in normal life.
The NDIS has allowed people with severe disabilities to live more normal and connected lives within the community. It has helped move disability care away from segregation and institutionalisation and toward inclusion, dignity, and human rights.
I fear these reforms risk undoing much of that progress.
As a young person currently studying at university, I also worry deeply about the impact these changes may have on my own future. I have dreams, goals, career plans, and aspirations for my life. However, if my uncles’ supports are significantly reduced or
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 678
destabilised, I fear I may eventually be forced to give up my future plans in order to step in and care for them myself to ensure they are not neglected, abandoned, or placed at risk.
No young person should be placed in a position where they must choose between their future and ensuring their vulnerable family members survive safely.
I respectfully ask that the Government carefully consider the real human consequences of these reforms for families like mine and for vulnerable Australians who rely on the NDIS not simply for “services,” but for safety, dignity, stability, health, and survival.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,