Submission 832
UQ Union Disability Collective’s NDIS
bill submission
To whom it may concern,
We are writing to raise some of our concerns regarding several of the proposed changes in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
The Disability Collective is a branch of The University of Queensland Union (UQU). Our Collective focuses on advocacy, support, and social connectedness. As an advocacy group, we represent thousands of university students who attend The University of Queensland who are living with disability, chronic illness, mental illness, neurodiversity and/or are d/Deaf.
We ask that the Government withdraw this bill.
Mandatory registration and its impacts to choice and safety
The proposed expansion of mandatory provider registration is something we are deeply concerned about. Particularly in regard to how this will impact participants’ choice and flexibility of the supports they receive, in addition to the potential loss of access to trusted and experienced workers.
In its present state, the process for provider registration is costly and unnecessarily difficult. This process may be easier for larger companies to afford and navigate, but can exclude sole traders and contractors from registration due to the relatively high hurdles. Many sole traders and contractors are experienced and qualified workers. Skilled workers who only work with a small pool of clients, may find it financially unviable to pay registration fees to continue working. Hence, we are concerned that mandatory registration will lead to workforce shortages. We are also concerned that people who employ their support workers, may no longer be able to work with trusted supports.
In the case of those from marginalised backgrounds, have experienced violence, or have conditions that make it difficult for them to trust strangers, being able to choose specific, trusted support workers is incredibly important to their safety and wellbeing. The nature of disability support work can at times be highly delicate and vulnerable by nature. There are members of our collective who greatly benefit from being able to choose trusted support workers, many of whom are sole traders or contractors.
How loss of support worsens mental wellbeing
Adequate and appropriately funded alternative support systems do not currently exist. Plans to remove existing participants from the NDIS will be detrimental to peoples’ mental
Submission 832
wellbeing when the supports they currently receive are inherently tied to their health, wellbeing, and capacity to live.
Loss of NDIS support, like many vital services to the voting community, can also have a devastating impact on their mental health, livelihoods, and even lives themselves. The destruction of vital services for for NDIS participants at a psychological low-point – whether incumbent or returning – can increase suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and other harmful behaviours. While destructive results in and of themselves, these behaviours can and often do result in community deaths. This, in turn, increases the further likelihood of mortality rates. Misery from helplessness spreads like a virus. The terrible circumstances from an environment without NDIS support will also, undoubtedly, generate animosity towards the governing bodies perceived to be responsible for these destructive environments to begin with. Death has poor optics in political decision-making – especially for voters.
The proposed reduction to social and community participation funding
We are concerned about the risk of social isolation to our Collective members. The proposed bill will result in a loss of support work and similar social and community participation supports for members. These people will therefore potentially be unable to access university and their studies, as well as the UQU Disability Collective rooms on campus and therefore be isolated socially. For many of our members, the Collective is a major part of their social and community participation and wellbeing, including welfare supports we provide. Social isolation and loss of other Collective supports could significantly impact the mental health of these people and worsen their quality of life.
The flow-on effects on other public systems
It is well known that prevention of a crisis is far more effective than a cure, and as it stands the NDIS is that prevention for many disabled people and their families. The proposed reduction in NDIS supports will lead many people to crisis, putting strain on the public health system, the criminal justice system, and other already-overburdened community supports. Proposing to move people onto state-run supports is not a viable solution either. It is not more efficient to save money on the federal level by increasing costs at the state level. The proposed bill is not only cruel, it is inefficient. Needs will not vanish simply because they are told to.
Thank you for reviewing our submission and concerns regarding the bill.
Sincerely,
The UQU Disability Collective
Submission 832