National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 817
I am writing about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
I support the idea of keeping the NDIS sustainable into the future, and I understand there is a need to deal with fraud and misuse so the system works for the people who genuinely need it.
At the same time, I am concerned that some of the changes may unintentionally make it harder for people with real but less visible disabilities, particularly acquired brain injuries and neurological conditions.
I have brain cancer and was diagnosed in October 2024. I’m not currently on the NDIS, but I do have an acquired brain injury. It’s reassuring knowing the system exists if I need it, but like a lot of people with invisible disabilities, I’m not always sure how eligibility is actually applied when things aren’t obvious on the surface.
I’m involved in the ABI community in Perth. I attend separate monthly ABI support classes, which are not part of Kings Park Warriors, although there is some overlap because volunteers from Kings Park Warriors often attend sessions at Fiona Stanley Hospital in a support role.
Across these groups, I’ve noticed a pretty consistent thing: a lot of people attend independently and without support workers, even though many of them probably should have some level of support in place.
One of the main issues I see is invisible disability and the imposter syndrome that comes with it. People with brain injuries often deal with cognitive fatigue, executive function issues, memory problems, or slowed processing that you can’t really see from the outside. Because of that, people often end up presenting as “fine” when they’re actually struggling, or they don’t ask for support because they don’t feel “disabled enough”.
This is where I think the Bill needs to be careful.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 817
I’m concerned about changes to social and community participation funding. From what I’ve seen, these supports are not just “social activities” they actually play a big role in recovery, mental health, confidence, and day-to-day functioning. If those supports are reduced, it might save money inside the NDIS, but I think there’s a real risk those costs just show up somewhere else in healthcare, carer burden, or people dropping out of work and community life.
From a systems point of view, I think it’s important to look at the whole picture, not just NDIS spending on its own. Neurological conditions can affect work and daily functioning in ways that aren’t always obvious, and the right support early on can make a big difference to long-term independence and workforce participation.
I’m not against reform I think it’s needed. I just think it’s important that invisible disabilities and acquired brain injuries are properly recognised in how the system is designed and assessed, so people don’t fall through the gaps just because their disability isn’t easy to see.
Thanks for considering my submission.