National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 681
Subject: Submission – National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submitted by: roundsquared Ltd
Introduction
roundsquared Ltd is a not-for-profit registered NDIS provider delivering services to people with disability, particularly in regional communities.
Our organisation is deeply embedded in the communities we support. We are led by lived experience and employ a workforce where a significant proportion of staff have disability.
As a not-for-profit organisation, our focus is not on financial gain, but on:
delivering meaningful, high-quality outcomes for participants
reinvesting in workforce capability and service quality
supporting long-term independence and community participation
We acknowledge that reform is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the NDIS. However, we are concerned that the proposed changes under the Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill risk undermining the very outcomes the scheme was designed to achieve. Those risks are amplified if implemented without genuine co-design, adequate transition, and system awareness.
We know progress is built over time and can be quickly undone
At roundsquared, we consistently see NDIS Participants move from:
isolation to independence
dependence to capacity building
exclusion to participation and leadership
This progress is gradual and requires stability in supports.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 681
Where supports are reduced or uncertain we see rapid regression with Participants frequently withdrawing from work and community. This ultimately increases long-term reliance on the system.
Increased fear and reduced confidence in the system
We are observing a growing level of fear across the community.
Participants are:
questioning whether they should still be receiving supports
reducing supports prematurely
feeling they no longer “deserve” assistance
For those who have achieved independent living and stability, this is deeply destabilising.
Crisis response: what the system actually depends on
Bushfires (2019–2020)
During the bushfires, many Participants were unable to access evacuation centres due to physical barriers and lack of disability-accessible emergency responses.
roundsquared responded by:
delivering groceries and essential items
ensuring access to medication
supporting Participants to evacuate where possible
In many cases, Participants could not physically access emergency centres, and no mainstream or disability-specific services were available to meet their needs.
Support was only possible because trusted relationships already existed.
Without that connection, outcomes could have been significantly worse.
COVID-19 pandemic
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 681
During COVID-19, many Participants, particularly those living with ageing parents, experienced significant isolation.
Our staff, including staff with disability, innovated to:
create online social connection activities
maintain engagement with participants
support navigation of mainstream COVID supports
This ensured Participants were not excluded while the broader population accessed support.
We need to value relational, trusted support
The effectiveness of the NDIS is built on relationships, not transactions.
Participants rely on:
consistent support workers
trust and familiarity
the ability to communicate needs safely
These relationships support independence, enable early intervention and prevent crisis. Disrupting these through rapid reform risks breaking the foundation of effective support.
Impact on providers and sector sustainability
Roundsquared is a small-to-medium not-for-profit provider that has invested over years in systems such as CRM platforms, undertaken ongoing staff training and maintained regular registration and audit processes. As a not-for-profit, all resources are reinvested into Participant outcomes, workforce development and service improvement. We are deeply concerned that the current reforms risk placing unsustainable financial and operational pressure on ethical providers and failing to recognise the true cost of compliance for their organisations.
The proposed reforms package is also reinforcing a harmful narrative that providers are exploiting the system - this narrative is not reflective of organisations like ours who are:
community-based
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 681
outcomes-focused, and
operating with integrity
Sustainability must include providers
We support the goal of making the NDIS sustainable however, sustainability cannot be achieved by:
reducing supports without evidence
implementing reform without transition planning
placing disproportionate burden on providers
Without targeted support and time to adapt, small-to-medium providers, including not-for-profits, may not survive. This is certain to reduce access to services, particularly in regional communities, leading to poorer outcomes for Participants.
The need for co-design and realistic timeframes
Reform of this scale requires genuine consultation with people with disability. We must have engagement with providers delivering real-world supports and cooperation with them to outline practical implementation timelines. A 10-day consultation period is not sufficient.
Recommendations
roundsquared recommends that the Committee:
-
Commit to genuine co-design with people with disability and providers
-
Extend consultation and implementation timelines
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 681
-
Protect supports that enable long-term independence and real workforce participation
-
Recognise and fund the true cost of delivering quality supports
-
Provide transition support for small-to-medium providers, including not-for-profits
-
Strengthen relational, community-based service models
Conclusion
As a not-for-profit organisation, roundsquared exists to support people with disability to live independent, connected, and meaningful lives.
We see every day what happens when the system works; and what happens when it doesn’t.
The proposed changes risk reversing years of progress.
Any NDIS reform must be co-designed, evidence-based and carefully implemented…
So that sustainability is achieved without sacrificing the outcomes the NDIS was created to deliver.
Sincerely,
Krystal Tritton