National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 851
To the Senate Community Affairs Committee,
I am writing as the parent of two NDIS participants to express my concerns about the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026.
I understand the importance of protecting the long-term sustainability of the NDIS. However, I am deeply concerned about the impact these changes could have on children, young adults and families who rely on supports to safely participate in everyday life.
My daughter previously had school transport funding approved after an extremely difficult period involving long daily travel times. After finally receiving the support, it was later removed, despite the clear impact on her wellbeing, education and participation.
The removal of supports like transport is not a small inconvenience. It affects whether disabled children can safely access education, whether families can maintain employment and stability, and whether carers can continue without burnout.
I am concerned about any reforms that narrow access to supports or make it harder to receive “reasonable and necessary” funding. Supports such as transport, therapy, respite, community access and capacity building are often described as optional or secondary, but for many families they are preventative supports that stop situations from escalating into crisis.
Without these supports:
- children and young people can become isolated,
- education participation suffers,
- employment opportunities are reduced,
- carers experience significant stress and exhaustion,
- and families are pushed closer to breakdown. I am also deeply concerned about the long-term impact these changes could have on young adults with disability who are trying to build independence and participate in employment.
My son is 18 and currently has an NDIS plan. Supports that build independence, social skills, confidence, transport capacity and employment readiness are not unnecessary extras — they are investments in his future.
If supports are reduced or removed now, it could significantly affect his ability to gain and maintain employment in the future. Without appropriate support during this transition into adulthood, many young people with disability risk becoming isolated, unemployed, or dependent on higher levels of support later in life.
In the long term, cutting preventative and capacity-building supports may actually increase costs to government through greater reliance on income support, crisis services, mental health services and long-term care.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 851
Supporting disabled young people to participate in employment and community life should be viewed as a long-term investment, not simply a short-term budget expense.
I am also concerned about:
- increased use of automated decision-making,
- reduced flexibility in plans,
- tighter reassessment rules,
- and changes that appear focused primarily on cost reduction rather than participant outcomes.
The NDIS should not only be measured by short-term financial savings. The real measure should be whether disabled Australians are able to safely participate in their communities, access education and employment, and live with dignity.
I also believe the consultation period for this legislation is far too short for changes of this scale. Many participants, carers and disabled people are already overwhelmed navigating the system and do not have adequate time to understand and respond to these reforms.
I ask the committee to carefully consider the real-world consequences these changes may have for participants and families.
Thank you for considering my submission.
Yours sincerely,