Cerebral Palsy Australia has made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on the proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The Bill aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the NDIS. CP Australia supports this goal and recognises the importance of a stable Scheme for future generations.
At the same time, our submission highlights the need to ensure the reforms work for people with lifelong disabilities, including the 37,000 Australians living with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a permanent, lifelong neurological condition. While support needs may change over time, they do not disappear.
Why this submission matters
For people living with cerebral palsy, supports are needed across the whole of life — from childhood, through education and employment, and into older age.
Needs may change gradually or suddenly, and often become more complex over time.
This means the NDIS must remain flexible and responsive, so people can access the right support when they need it.
Key issues raised
The submission focuses on how the reforms may affect access to and planning for supports, particularly:
- how functional capacity will be assessed
- when plans can be reviewed or updated
- how supports are defined as being related to disability
- the flexibility people need as their needs change over time
CP Australia is concerned that some elements of the Bill may create inflexibility that does not reflect the lived experience of cerebral palsy across the life course.
Our key recommendations
We have put forward practical recommendations to ensure the NDIS continues to work well for people with lifelong and complex disability. These include:
- Developing clear and consistent rules for assessing functional capacity, co-designed with people with lived experience
- Defining what counts as a ‘significant change’, so people can access reassessment when needed
- Ensuring support is not limited by a narrow interpretation of what is considered directly related to disability
- Maintaining participant involvement and flexibility in planning and funding
- Providing safeguards where automated decision-making is used, including access to human review
Looking ahead
CP Australia will continue to work with government, the NDIA and sector partners to ensure the needs and experiences of people living with cerebral palsy are reflected in how these changes are implemented.
We remain committed to ensuring the NDIS is both sustainable and capable of supporting people with lifelong and complex disabilities.
This Bill is part of a broader reform package. CP Australia will continue to work with government, the NDIA, and sector partners to ensure the voices of people with cerebral palsy are heard as changes are implemented.
Read the full submission: Cerebral Palsy Australia Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Inquiry into the NDIS Reform Bill 2026
