Every major change to the NDIS starts with a conversation in Parliament.
Unfortunately, many Australians living with disability, their families, carers and support workers don’t realise how much influence their personal stories can have on that process.
At Lion and Mouse Australia, we believe people with disability should be at the centre of every decision made about the NDIS.
And that means speaking directly to the people responsible for making those decisions.
We have even compiled some tips for you at the end of this article on effective advocacy.
Your Story Matters More Than Statistics
Politicians regularly receive reports, briefings and policy papers.
What they often don’t hear enough of are real stories from real people.
They don’t hear from:
- Parents worried about losing critical supports.
- Participants struggling to find accessible housing.
- People stuck in hospital because there is nowhere suitable to go.
- Families facing growing healthcare and transport costs.
- Disability support workers witnessing the impact of funding changes on participants every day.
Your lived experience provides something no government report can.
It provides reality.
Why You Should Contact Your Senators
Members of the Australian Senate vote on legislation that directly affects the NDIS and disability services across Australia.
Whether you support proposed reforms, oppose them, or simply want improvements to the system, your elected representatives should hear from the people who will be most affected.
When contacting a Senator, consider sharing:
- How the NDIS has improved your life
- Supports you would struggle without
- Concerns about proposed funding changes
- Challenges accessing housing, healthcare or services
- Suggestions for improving the Scheme
- The impact delays and bureaucracy have on your daily life
Personal stories are often more powerful than political arguments.
What Should You Say?
You don’t need to be a policy expert.
A simple message can be effective:
“My name is _____ and I live in Victoria. I am an NDIS participant / family member / disability worker. I am concerned about the impact of proposed NDIS changes because ________. I would like you to consider how these changes may affect people with disability in your community.”
Keep it respectful, honest and personal.
Victorian Senators You Can Contact
The following Senators represent Victoria in the Australian Parliament. Contact details are publicly available through Parliamentary and Government directories. [directory.gov.au], [aph.gov.au]
Senator Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Australian Labor Party)
📞 (03) 9822 4422
✉️ senator.ananda-rajah@aph.gov.au
Senator Ralph Babet (United Australia Party)
📞 (03) 9070 1900
✉️ senator.babet@aph.gov.au
Senator Raff Ciccone (Australian Labor Party)
📞 (03) 9894 2098
✉️ senator.ciccone@aph.gov.au
Senator Lisa Darmanin (Australian Labor Party)
📞 (03) 9232 8260
✉️ senator.darmanin@aph.gov.au
Senator Sarah Henderson (Liberal Party)
📞 (03) 5221 5900
✉️ senator.henderson@aph.gov.au
Senator Steph Hodgins-May (Australian Greens)
📞 (03) 9381 1446
✉️ senator.hodgins-may@aph.gov.au
Senator Jane Hume (Liberal Party)
📞 (03) 9428 1773
✉️ senator.hume@aph.gov.au
Senator Bridget McKenzie (The Nationals)
📞 (02) 6024 2560
✉️ senator.mckenzie@aph.gov.au
Senator James Paterson (Liberal Party)
📞 (03) 9690 2201
✉️ senator.paterson@aph.gov.au
Senator Jana Stewart (Australian Labor Party)
📞 (03) 9070 1920
✉️ senator.stewart@aph.gov.au
Senator Lidia Thorpe (Independent)
📞 (03) 9070 1950
✉️ senator.thorpe@aph.gov.au
Senator Union Representative / Additional Victorian Senator
Victorian Senate representation and contact details can be confirmed through the Parliament of Australia directory. [directory.gov.au], [aph.gov.au]
Advocacy Creates Change
The NDIS exists today because people with disability, families and advocates refused to stay silent.
Every major improvement in disability rights has happened because individuals shared their experiences and demanded better outcomes.
Whether your story involves:
- Housing
- Healthcare
- Dental care
- Employment
- Education
- Transport
- Support coordination
- Hospital discharge
- NDIS funding
your experience deserves to be heard.
Lion and Mouse Supports Participant Advocacy
At Lion and Mouse Australia, we believe participant voices should help shape the future of disability support in Australia.
We encourage our participants, families and broader community to engage respectfully with elected representatives and contribute to conversations about the future of the NDIS.
Because the best disability policy isn’t written in Canberra.
It’s informed by the people living it every day.
Need Help Understanding Current NDIS Changes?
If you’re uncertain how proposed reforms may affect your supports, funding or goals, our team is here to help.
📞 1300 048 355
🌐 www.lionandmouse.com.au
Lion and Mouse Australia Ltd is a registered Australian charity led by lived experience and committed to empowering people with disability through advocacy, inclusion and ethical support delivery.
How to Be an Effective Advocate
Many people assume they need to be a policy expert to contact a Senator or Member of Parliament.
You don’t.
In fact, the most influential advocacy often comes from people simply sharing their lived experience.
- Tell Your Story, Not Someone Else’s
Politicians receive thousands of form letters and policy briefings every year.
What they hear far less often are personal stories.
Instead of saying:
“The NDIS changes are bad.”
Try:
“Without my support worker, I would not be able to attend medical appointments, buy groceries, or participate in my community.”
Real experiences help decision-makers understand the human impact behind policy decisions.
- Be Specific
General concerns are important, but specific examples are more powerful.
Consider explaining:
- What support you currently receive
- How that support improves your life
- What could happen if funding changes
- Additional costs you already face
- Barriers you experience accessing healthcare, transport, housing or employment
The more practical your example, the easier it is for politicians to understand.
- Focus on Outcomes
Rather than talking only about funding, talk about what support enables.
For example:
✅ Independence
✅ Employment
✅ Education
✅ Volunteering
✅ Community participation
✅ Family relationships
✅ Better health outcomes
The NDIS is not simply a funding program. It is a pathway to inclusion.
- Contact More Than One Politician
Many people write to a single representative and stop.
Consider contacting:
- Government Senators
- Opposition Senators
- Greens Senators
- Independent Senators
- Your local Member of Parliament
Disability is not a partisan issue.
People with disability live in every electorate and every community.
- Request a Response
Ask directly:
“Can you please outline your position on these proposed NDIS changes and how you believe they will affect people with disability?”
This encourages meaningful engagement rather than a generic acknowledgement.
- Stay Respectful
It can be tempting to write when feeling frustrated, angry or frightened.
However, respectful communication is usually the most effective.
The goal is not to win an argument.
The goal is to ensure your experience is heard and understood.
- Follow Up
Advocacy is rarely achieved through a single email.
If you don’t receive a response:
- Send a follow-up email
- Call the office
- Request a meeting
- Attend community forums or town hall events
Positive change often comes from persistence.
- Encourage Others to Share Their Story
Your voice matters.
But so do the voices of:
- Family members
- Carers
- Disability support workers
- Allied health professionals
- Friends and community members
The more stories decision-makers hear, the harder it becomes to ignore the real impact of policy decisions.
An Example Email to a Senator
Subject: Concerns About Proposed NDIS Changes
Dear Senator,
My name is [Name], and I live in Victoria.
I am writing as a person living with disability / family member / carer / disability support worker.
The NDIS allows me to [describe support and outcomes].
I am concerned that proposed changes to the NDIS may affect my ability to [work, study, live independently, access healthcare, participate in my community, etc.].
I ask that you consider the real-life impact these decisions may have on people with disability and their families.
I would appreciate hearing your views on these proposed changes and how you will advocate for people with disability in Parliament.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
[Name]
What If You’re Ignored?
Let’s be honest.
Sometimes you will send an email to a politician and receive a generic response. Sometimes you may not receive a response at all.
That doesn’t mean your advocacy has failed.
Advocacy is rarely about a single email. It is about making sure decision-makers cannot say they didn’t know how their decisions would affect real people.
- Follow Up
If you have not received a response within two to three weeks:
- Send a polite follow-up email.
- Reference your original correspondence.
- Ask whether your concerns have been reviewed.
- Request a direct response to the questions you raised.
Persistence is often more effective than passion.
- Call the Office
An email can be overlooked.
A phone call is much harder to ignore.
When calling:
- Introduce yourself.
- Explain that you are a constituent or Victorian resident.
- Ask whether your email has been received.
- Request that your concerns be brought to the Senator’s attention.
Office staff play an important role in briefing elected representatives.
- Request a Meeting
Many Senators and Members regularly meet with constituents.
You don’t need to be part of a large organisation.
You can simply say:
“I am an NDIS participant and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how these proposed changes may affect my life.”
A 15-minute meeting can often have more impact than several emails.
- Contact Other Representatives
Don’t stop at one office.
Contact:
- Government Senators
- Opposition Senators
- Greens Senators
- Independent Senators
- Your local Member of Parliament
Every elected representative has a responsibility to understand how policy affects people in their community.
- Join Forces
One voice matters.
Ten voices attract attention.
One hundred voices create pressure.
Consider working with:
- Disability advocacy organisations
- Parent networks
- Carer groups
- Community organisations
- Local disability service providers
Collective advocacy is often where change begins.
- Speak Publicly
If you’re comfortable doing so, consider:
- Writing a letter to your local newspaper
- Sharing your experience on social media
- Speaking at community forums
- Participating in consultations and reviews
Politicians often pay close attention to issues that are gaining public visibility.
- Keep a Record
Create a simple advocacy folder containing:
- Emails sent
- Responses received
- Dates of phone calls
- Meeting notes
- Names of staff members spoken to
This creates a clear record and helps demonstrate persistence and engagement.
- Remember: Silence Is Also a Response
If a politician repeatedly refuses to engage with concerns raised by people with disability, that information is valuable.
Elections provide an opportunity for communities to consider which representatives have listened, engaged and advocated on their behalf.
Accountability is one of the foundations of democracy.
Don’t Underestimate Your Influence
Many of the rights, supports and protections available to people with disability today exist because ordinary people refused to accept being ignored.
The NDIS itself was created after years of advocacy by people with disability, families, carers and community organisations.
Change rarely happens overnight.
But every email, phone call, meeting and personal story contributes to a conversation that decision-makers cannot ignore forever.
Your lived experience is expertise. Your story matters. And your voice deserves to be heard.