Submission 687
Submission Regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing
the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to submit this inquiry regarding the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026. I make this submission in my capacity as a Support Coordinator and Psychosocial Recovery Coach on behalf of A Better Tomorrow Australia, an organisation that has been supporting NDIS participants since 2019.
The Bill introduces tighter eligibility criteria, revised definitions of “reasonable and necessary” supports, and strengthened compliance measures aimed at containing expenditure growth and securing the long-term sustainability of the Scheme. However, these proposed reforms operate under the assumption that sustainability is primarily achievable through restriction, placing responsibility on participants and service organisations while diverting attention from broader socio-political factors that contribute to increased demand. Factors such as Australia’s ageing population, increased diagnosis rates, and the lack of access to or awareness of mainstream alternatives more accurately explain the rise in participant numbers. By focusing reform efforts predominantly on participant access and funding restrictions, the Bill risks constructing disability support as a fiscal burden rather than a fundamental social and human rights responsibility.
The proposed amendments in Schedule 1, which focus heavily on participant eligibility and funding access, appear to reflect an assumption that participants are either misusing the Scheme or seeking access unnecessarily. This framing is both inaccurate and harmful, as it positions participants as sources of systemic strain and economic burden. This directly conflicts with the stated purpose of the NDIS to support people to gain more time with family and friends, greater independence, access to employment and volunteering opportunities, and an improved quality of life.1
Submission 687
Access to the NDIS and Reduction in Funding
Under the proposed amendments, eligibility for the NDIS will require a person’s impairment/s to result in substantially reduced functional capacity in one or more key areas, including mobility, communication, social interaction, learning, self-care, and self-management.
While this appears reasonable in principle, assessing functional capacity is highly complex, particularly for individuals who experience fluctuating levels of disability, less visible disabilities, and the ability to mask functional impairment.
Participants with fluctuating disabilities often do not utilise their funding consistently. However, this does not indicate a lack of need. Many participants live with lifelong conditions that can deteriorate unpredictably. Removing or reducing funding due to temporary underutilisation significantly increases risk when participants experience future crises.
In many cases, participants may be unable to access their allocated supports due to periods of poor health, exhaustion, psychological distress, or service access barriers. Reducing support on the basis of underuse removes their capacity to recover and engage with supports when they are able to do so.
Additionally, individuals with less visible disabilities often spend years masking or compensating for their impairments. These participants may experience severe internal distress and functional limitations that are not immediately observable. Delaying support until disability becomes visibly severe or significantly debilitating contradicts both preventative healthcare principles and Australia’s commitment to equitable healthcare access.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2020–2022), 42.9% of Australians aged 16–85 years (8.5 million people) have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives2. This is a 50% increase compared to 2017–2018 data – 20.1% (4.8 million people)3.
Given the rise in mental health diagnoses, increased demand for psychosocial disability support is expected. Further reductions to necessary supports may actively harm participants by reversing progress and increasing long-term support needs. This is particularly concerning in relation to psychology supports, which have already been removed from many participant plans despite being essential for participants living with psychosocial disabilities. These supports are critical not only for maintaining stability but also for preventing deterioration and reducing reliance on acute healthcare services.
Submission 687
Efforts to reduce long-term expenditure should not come at the expense of making access to the NDIS more difficult or limiting participants’ ability to receive adequate start-up funding. Access to the Scheme is already difficult, even for participants who clearly meet eligibility criteria. Current participant plans are already frequently insufficient, often failing to reflect the full extent of psychosocial and functional disability identified through formal assessments.
Alternative Solutions
Strengthening regulation to address fraud and misuse is necessary. However, these efforts should target fraudulent providers and unregulated services engaging in inappropriate claims, rather than imposing restrictions that negatively impact legitimate participants.
What is needed instead are co-designed participant reforms and greater investment in preventative and early-intervention supports. Empowering participants through collaborative reform strengthens participant autonomy, improves outcomes, and ensures supports are tailored to genuine need. Further investment should also be directed toward strengthening the disability workforce by supporting qualified professionals who are committed to improving participant outcomes and contributing positively to Australian communities.
Additionally, where there is evidence of significant and sustained underutilisation of funding, any reduction process should occur gradually and over an extended review period — for example, over five years of consistent underuse. Sudden or substantial funding reductions do not allow participants adequate time to adjust and may result in deterioration, crisis escalation, and increased long-term dependence on more intensive support systems.
Conclusion
While securing the long-term sustainability of the NDIS is an important objective, this Bill risks achieving this through restrictive measures that disproportionately impact vulnerable participants. A sustainable NDIS should be built through participant-centred reform, stronger provider regulation, preventative investment, and evidence-based policy design — not by narrowing access to essential supports for those who need them most. The participants currently accessing these services are deriving measurable benefit, which in turn reduces demand on emergency departments, hospital systems, and other public health services. Preventative early intervention remains one of the most effective long-term cost-saving strategies.
Submission 687
I respectfully urge reconsideration of these proposed amendments and encourage reforms that preserve both the financial sustainability and foundational purpose of the NDIS.
Thank you for considering this submission.
Regards,
Stephanie Nguyen
Submission 687
1. What is the NDIS | NDIS [Internet]. Available from:https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding-ndis/about-ndis/what-ndis
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National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 [Internet]. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2024. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-2022#key-statistics
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Mental health, 2017-18 financial year [Internet]. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2018. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/mental health/2017-18