Submission on the NDIS Amendment Bill
Name:
I am a disabled person who is an NDIS participant. I am also a clinician; a psychologist who delivers NDIS-funded supports.
The Introduction / my connection to this issue
Aam an adult who lives with multiple disabilities, and I require support in order to live a fulfilling life with dignity. My disabilities have been impacting me my whole life, but I have only recently been able to access support through the NDIS, which has been positively life-changing for me.
I am also a psychologist who delivers NDIS-funded supports. I work with many people who are disabled and who are on NDIS. I closely witness the struggles and challenges that NDIS participants experience, and the work I do with these wonderful humans contributes directly to their improved capacity & positive outcomes. NDIS is vital to my clients being able to flourish and live full lives.
My overall position on this Bill
Hhave serious concerns about this Bill.
I am very concerned in the lack of consultation with disabled people or Human Rights Commission throughout the decision-making process for this Bill.
I am seriously concerned about this Bill withdrawing supports from people who rely on them to stay alive & live tolerable lives, and I am worried that many people will die by suicide or attempt suicide in response to their supports being withdrawn. I am seriously concerned that this Bill contributes to eugenics and the systemic destruction of disabled people.
I am seriously concerned that this Bill opposes the well-documented data which shows that every $1 invested into the NDIS has a return of $2.25, indicating that continued investment into the NDIS would further support Australia’s economic success.
My key concerns
My key concerns about the Bill are: loss of supports, administrative burden, changes to assessments & eligibility, and automated decision making.
The Loss of supports provided to disabled people: The current structure of the NDIS means that most people already do not have sufficient support through the NDIS, and that only a very small minority of participants (under 10%) have overly costly plans. This means that many NDIS participants are already “making do” with minimal budgets, picking which supports to access instead of others that they need, and not receiving the supports they need to improve their capacity. Cutting funding from
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 4212
The proposed changes could further decrease access to support, and reduce ability to live good lives. Removing people from the NDIS without having already established alternative systems to continue supporting them, causes harm.
Administrative burden on participants:
A participant agrees the administrative process is flawed & needs redesigning. It’s incredibly unclear what’s needed accessing/using an NDIS plan, and supports provided haven’t clarified requirements. As provider, admin requriements constantly change w/o clear updates about what’s required & permitted. Feels like jumping through invisible hoops performing at circus with blindfold. Change is needed but increasing work that participants do engaging with NDIS isn’t disability informed; places vulnerable ppl @ risk being taken advantage of, providers have fewer resources providing supports to participants.
Changes to Assessments & Eligibility:
The new assessment using I-CAN raises concerns. Modifying existing assessments makes it empirically invalid until research demonstrates validity & accuracy. The I-CAN assessment has been modified implemented w/out empirical testing so there’s no way know if accurate. Seriously concerning this inaccurate assessment used determine eligibility to NDIS. People conducting I-CAN eligibilty assess aren’t trained clinicians or clinically assessing level of disabililty which furthur validates inaccuracy impacting particpants because assesments won’t accurately describe their needes resulting in reduced support due outcomes from inacurate assessement
Automated Decision Making:
the AI tools proposed for decision making are documented biased against disabled people unable accuretly access individual situation frequently generating false misleading information therefore inappropriate determining needs within plans It’s concering these tool implement without safeguards protections extremely concern requests review reconsideration automated decison outcome not be permit given the tools likely innacurrate These tools discrimintory towards disable and will fail tailor plan suit any indivual need violating anti discrimination act
What I want committee understand: If NDIS participates removed during cost living crisis many die NDIA Labor government commission must held responsible
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
Submission 4212
If NDIS participants are unable to access their supports due to plan cuts or increased administrative burden, they will become unable to live their lives with dignity. Their capacity will reduce and they will require more support from their families/friends/partners/unpaid carers, many of whom will have to leave their own workplaces to provide support. If this happens, disabled people will become an even larger burden on the economy, and Australia will lose valuable non-disabled employees that support the economy. NDIS work roles make up a huge portion of the Australian economy currently, and many providers will be forced to leave the workplace if participants are not able to fund supports through the NDIS. This will leave a huge portion of the non-disabled Australian workforce with reduced income, increased financial strain, and increased unemployment. The economic outcomes of reducing funding to the NDIS are enormous & disastrous.
Many of these proposed changes in the Bill may risk violating the Human Rights Act and Anti-Discrimination Act.
What needs to change or be protected
I ask the committee to please:
- Involve disability advocates and the Human Rights Commission when reviewing this Bill.
- Work towards making NDIS more accessible for disabled people to access, and to increase protections so that disabled people are not being taken advantage of for the profit & fraudulent spending of malicious providers.
- Complete rigorous empirical testing of any tools, assessments, or processes before they are implemented, to ensure they are safe & accurate for use with disabled populations & individuals
- Protect the existing supports that are provided to NDIS participants
- Ensure that transitions & their impact on real humans are clearly communicated to providers & participants well in advance, to ensure a safe transition when changes must occur
Final statement
The Bill proposes changes that are seriously concerning and harmful to disabled people and the Australian economy. I urge the committee to please consider my experience and the experience of others when reviewing this Bill.