25/04/2026
We hear so many negative things regarding the NDIS at the moment
So we would like to share something positive, when the NDIS gets it right
What the NDIS has given Robert the community and the people around him.
Robert is my 33year-old son.
He lives with multiple co-morbidities and requires 1:1 support, 24 hours a day, for every aspect of his daily life.
From the moment he wakes, to the moment he goes to sleep and throughout the night Robert relies on support for:
* Personal care, including showering and oral hygiene
* Meal preparation and nutrition
* Domestic tasks and maintaining a safe home environment
* Transport to access the community, appointments, and services
* Social and community participation
* Building and maintaining life skills
* Navigating everyday tasks that many people never have to think twice about
Without this level of care, Robert is at risk he simply wouldn’t be able to live a safe, meaningful, or connected life.
But because of the NDIS because of the right support, at the right level Robert’s life is not defined by his disabilities.
It is defined by possibility.
Because of the NDIS, Robert can:
* Live with dignity, respect, and safety every single day
* Have choice and control over his life something every human being deserves
* Leave his home and be part of his community, not isolated from it
* Build genuine relationships and social connections
* Attend appointments and access the services he needs without barriers
* Be supported to participate in life, not just exist within it
And something I never thought possible
Robert has been able to gain casual employment.
He has been able to:
* Contribute
* Connect
* Grow
* Be seen beyond his disability
His world has expanded. His confidence has grown. His opportunities have increased.
He is living a life that reflects the same basic rights and opportunities that you and I have every day.
What the NDIS Has Given Me As His Mum
As a single mum, before the right supports were in place, my life revolved entirely around caregiving.
There was no break.
No privacy.
No time to breathe.
No me time.
I used to wish for just 5 minutes to myself… and now I find myself truly appreciating the time that is given to me.
And while I would do it all again in a heartbeat for my son the reality is, it came at a cost.
Because of the NDIS, my life has changed too.
It has given me:
* The ability to work and follow my own dreams
* The chance to rebuild my identity beyond being a full-time carer
* Personal time ,time to rest, reset, and simply exist as myself
* Privacy, something so many people take for granted
* The ability to reconnect with my community, friendships, and the outside world
* The space to learn who I am on the other side of being a full-time carer, 24/7
* The capacity to be a better mum, because I am no longer running on empty
It has also given me something I never had before
The ability to spend quality, meaningful time with my daughter and now my granddaughter, truly present, truly connected, and able to devote my time to them in a way I couldn’t before.
It has given me parts of life I once believed were only meant for others.
Now, I get to live them myself.
And most importantly, it has given me peace of mind — knowing my son is safe, supported, and living a life with dignity and choice.
The Ripple Effect
The impact of the NDIS doesn’t stop with Robert or our family.
The support he receives:
* Provides meaningful employment to support workers
* Supports families and individuals financially
* Creates purpose, fulfilment, and connection for those who choose to work in this space
* Builds stronger, more inclusive communities
So when you hear the negative conversations about the NDIS, I ask you to stop and think about this:
Look at what it has given Robert.
A life filled with:
* Dignity
* Opportunity
* Connection
* Purpose
And look at what it has given me
The ability to breathe again.
For families like mine, it is life-changing. We are proof of that.
It is the difference between surviving… and truly living.
NDIS please don’t take quality of life away from Rob and others living with disabilities.
Don’t take employment from people who empower through receiving employment.
Please NDIS. Take 5 minutes or a day to actually reward yourself and spend time with someone who lives differently to you. I guarantee you that it will be the best thing you will do. Just come and visit Robert at his home and see how proud he is.
Ndis please put yourself in their shoes.
People living with disabilities are not a number or data base.
They’re bloody amazing people.
