We recap the Changes To NDIS For Participants, Families, And Carers information session

This blog is based on information shared during the National Disability Insurance Agency’s “Changes to NDIS for participants, families, and carers” information session. This webinar forms part of the NDIA’s “Understanding the NDIS” series and reflects what the Agency has publicly outlined as of October 2025.

The purpose of this post is to summarise what was presented in that session for families who may not have had the time, access, or capacity to attend the Changes To NDIS For Participants, Families, And Carers information session. It does not assess the effectiveness of the proposed changes, predict outcomes, or offer advice. As with many large-scale system reforms, there can be a gap between what is announced and how changes are experienced in real life. This summary is shared to help families stay informed, ask questions, and understand what the NDIA has said is coming, without assuming how these changes will work in practice.

If you’ve heard that the NDIS is changing and felt a knot form in your stomach, you’re not alone.

The NDIS has been life-changing for many families, but it has also been confusing, inconsistent and, at times, exhausting to navigate. Following a national review, the Australian Government has begun making changes to the scheme, aiming to make it fairer, clearer and more sustainable.

This blog is a family-friendly overview of what’s changing, what’s staying the same for now, and what’s coming next, based on information shared by the NDIA.

The Big Picture

The NDIS Review found that while the scheme has helped many people, it is not working well for everyone. In response, new legislation was passed in August 2024 to:

• Bring the NDIS back to its original intent

• Improve outcomes for people with permanent and significant disability

• Make planning and funding more consistent and understandable

Importantly, these changes are being rolled out gradually, with the biggest shifts to planning not expected until mid-2026.

What Has Already Changed

1. What NDIS funding can be used for

NDIS funding can only be used on approved NDIS supports. In some cases, an NDIS support may be replaced with a non-NDIS support. These are called replacement supports, and this rule is temporary. For families, this means it’s more important than ever to check that supports align clearly with NDIS guidelines.

2. Funding periods inside plans

New NDIS plans now include:

• One total budget for the entire plan

• Smaller funding periods within the plan (for example, 3, 6 or 12 months)

• Clear amounts allocated to different groups of supports

Funding periods do not reduce your total budget, and any unused funds roll over into the next funding period within the same plan.

3. Impairment information for new participants

From 1 January 2025, new participants receive a letter explaining:

• How they met NDIS access (disability, early intervention, or both)

• Which impairment category or categories they qualify under

For children under 6 with developmental delay, the letter will simply state “developmental delay” and will not list impairment categories. Existing participants will receive this information at a later stage.

What’s Coming Next (From Mid-2026)

A new way of planning

The NDIA is moving towards a new planning model that aims to be:

• Fairer

• Easier to understand

• Less paperwork-heavy for families

• More consistent across participants

These changes will be introduced slowly so the NDIA can listen to feedback and make adjustments along the way.

A Major Shift For Support Needs Assessments

One of the biggest upcoming changes is the introduction of NDIA-run support needs assessments, provided at no cost to participants.

These assessments are intended to:

• Reduce the burden on families to gather reports and evidence

• Collect information directly from participants, families and carers

• Be used to inform NDIS plans and budgets

What families have said matters most:

• Being treated as experts in their own lives

• Assessments that are respectful and trauma-informed

• Clear explanations of how assessments connect to funding

• Assessors who listen with empathy and come prepared

Participants will be able to choose the time, location, and who attends the assessment with them.

What the New Planning Journey Will Look Like

For participants aged 16 and over, the new process will generally include:

1. Preparing for the Support Needs Assessment: A conversation with a Support Officer to explain what’s coming, answer questions, and make sure the participant feels ready.

2. The Support Needs Assessment: A guided conversation about daily life, support needs, preferences and goals. The assessor will write a report that the participant can review.

3. Receiving a Plan: A meeting with a Plan Delegate who explains the budget and how it links to the assessment.

4. Using the Plan: Support from an NDIS Partner or Support Coordinator to understand the plan, find providers and work towards goals.

The Assessment Tool Being Used

The NDIA plans to use a tool called I-CAN v6, developed by the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Disability Studies.

It is described as:

• Strengths-based

• Focused on how often and how much support is needed

• Used alongside information about personal and environmental circumstances

Additional assessments may be included if specific support needs are identified.

What Changes To NDIS Mean for Families Right Now

For most families, nothing changes immediately.

If your child already has an NDIS plan:

• Your current plan remains valid

• Existing supports continue

• Changes will be introduced gradually over time

What you can do now:

• Stay informed through official NDIA updates

• Ask questions when things don’t make sense

• Keep records of what supports work well for your child

• Remember that your lived experience matters

Staying Informed and Involved

You can:

• Visit ndis.gov.au

• Subscribe to the NDIS newsletter

• Join Participant First via NDIS Engage to share feedback

• Contact the NDIA directly for individual circumstances