National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 801
Submission Regarding Proposed Changes to NDIS
As a professional working within the NDIS sector, I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to Core funding and the significant impact these changes may have on participants, their families, and the broader community.
From my experience supporting participants in employment and microenterprise pathways, Core funding is far more than a mechanism for social engagement. While community participation is an essential outcome in itself, Core funding often serves as the foundation upon which participants build the confidence, skills, and independence required to pursue employment and other meaningful life goals.
Many participants are not employment-ready when they first engage with support services. In fact, a significant number initially experience barriers that prevent them from leaving their homes, engaging with others, or participating in their communities. Through consistent support funded under Core supports, participants gradually develop trust, confidence, social skills, communication abilities, and community connections. These are often the critical first steps that eventually lead to volunteering, training opportunities, and paid employment.
The proposed reduction in Core funding risks removing this essential pathway to employment. Capacity building does not occur in isolation. It is developed through regular, practical, community-based experiences that allow participants to build skills over time and in real-world settings.
One example is a young participant we currently support who has maintained employment in a bakery role at Coles for the past eight months. While obtaining employment was an important milestone, maintaining employment has required ongoing support, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration between the participant, employer, family, and support team. Without the flexibility provided through Core funding, it is highly likely that this employment opportunity would have ended within the first few months. Instead, the participant has continued to develop workplace skills, independence, and confidence through ongoing support and repetition both at work and at home.
Core funding is also critical for participants pursuing self-employment and microenterprise opportunities. Many individuals with disability face barriers to mainstream employment and instead achieve economic participation through small business ventures. Participants rely on Core supports to attend community markets, engage with customers, develop products, practise business skills, and build confidence within their communities.
In many cases, Finding and Keeping a Job funding is either not included in a participant’s plan or is insufficient to meet the level of support required. Reducing Core funding may therefore remove the primary source of support that enables participants to engage in these activities. This risks undermining existing microenterprises, reducing
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 801
community participation, and limiting opportunities for people with disability to contribute meaningfully to society.
Beyond the practical implications, I have observed significant anxiety and distress among participants regarding these proposed changes. Many individuals already experience uncertainty about their future supports, independence, and ability to participate in their communities. The fear surrounding potential funding reductions is having a measurable impact on wellbeing and mental health.
I acknowledge the need for the NDIS to remain financially sustainable. However, there are alternative areas that warrant examination before reducing participant supports that directly contribute to capacity building and community inclusion. For example, considerable resources are currently expended on lengthy review and appeal processes, including legal representation in matters where the funding outcomes being disputed are comparatively small. Greater attention should be given to improving efficiency within administrative and legal processes before reducing supports that participants rely on every day.
While these changes may affect my own employment, my primary concern is not my personal circumstances. As a worker in the community services sector, I am confident that I would be able to secure alternative employment. My concern is for the participants whose opportunities, independence, community engagement, employment outcomes, and quality of life may be significantly diminished if these changes proceed.
The long-term consequences may also extend beyond the NDIS. Reduced supports are likely to increase pressure on other government systems, including health, mental health, and crisis services. The potential cost savings achieved through funding reductions may ultimately be offset by increased demand on these already stretched systems.
I respectfully urge decision-makers to carefully consider the practical realities faced by participants and the vital role Core funding plays in building capacity, supporting employment, fostering community participation, and promoting long-term independence. Changes of this magnitude should be informed by extensive consultation with participants, families, frontline workers, and providers who witness the day-to-day impact of NDIS supports.
The NDIS has enabled many people with disability to achieve outcomes that were previously considered unattainable. Any reforms should preserve these opportunities and ensure that participants continue to have access to the supports necessary to build meaningful and fulfilling lives.