National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 939
To whom it may concern,
I have no concern with changes designed to reduce fraud, waste or inefficiency within the NDIS. Any system using public money should be accountable.
My concern is that, in trying to remove misuse, we may also remove simple, practical supports that help people with disability become more independent.
Many people I know, particularly those who have not had experience raising children with additional needs, speak about the NDIS as if everyone is rorting the system. My experience has been very different. The reality is that you almost need to be a rocket scientist to understand and navigate it all, let alone rort it. The system is already full of inefficiency, delays and inexperienced middle management.
I also acknowledge that most organisations are disorganised to some degree, and that delivering a system of this scale is a huge undertaking. At the recent careers expo, there appeared to be more NDIS and health-related careers being advertised than anything else, and there now seems to be an NDIS provider of some description on every corner. This tells me the sector has grown enormously, but not necessarily in a way that is easy for families to access or understand.
For families like mine, those supports are not luxuries. They are the difference between an adult child building the skills to live, work and participate, or a parent having to stop working to provide full-time care. I no longer leave the house to work so am working from home.
I have worked full-time, paid tax and raised three children, taking no more than 12 weeks off work in my life. I want my daughter to become as independent as possible, to work, earn money, pay tax and contribute like everyone else. But she needs the right support now to get there.
For young people with autism, ADHD or similar neurodevelopmental conditions, the KPIs should not just be about cutting costs or reducing line items. They should be about outcomes: is this young person moving towards part-time or full
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 939
time work, greater independence, confidence, daily living skills and reduced reliance on long-term support? If the system helped more young people reach employment, even gradually, that would be better for the participant, the family and the taxpayer.
It is especially frustrating living in South Australia, where we have a Minister for Autism, yet getting practical help for an autistic young person remains incredibly difficult. The title exists, the policy language exists, but families are still left trying to navigate an exhausting system largely on their own.
Our experience with the NDIS providers has already been extremely difficult. Support coordinators often did not understand the system, speaking to someone by phone was almost impossible, and even visiting an office only helped slightly. The delays had real consequences. My daughter was a high-achieving student and school captain, but without timely support she dropped out completely.
There is not one person holistically helping the participant. I cancelled an OT because she was asking the same questions each week that the psychologist was already covering simply overwhelming my daughter not improving things . We have a great psychologist, but he is a distance away, so every appointment removes around three hours from my workday.
We are not seeking NDIS support forever. We are seeking the right assistance and practical tools to help my daughter build her capacity, regain confidence and move towards a fully functioning, independent adult life.
That outcome helps her, helps our family, and ultimately helps the wider community.
Put good people in charge, check your providers listen to participants and put KPIs in place like a successful commercial organisation.
Kind regards,